• Two does not balance make, Janet G. It's time to privatise or shut it down. It's a parasite. - Gee
  • No, I didn't say that there are NO jobs that you can't take your children to or interrupt your schedule for. Your bile must have made your eyes blurry. - Gee
  • Sharon, I am merely suggesting that you help yourself. If we wait around for legislation or court appeals or whatever else you think is needed to 'level the playing fields' we could be long dead. I am not saying that it is all fair and rosey. I think that many many individuals making their own way will produce better results for said individuals than some collective approach, which might make some progress but it is unlikely to suit all women. I am not sure why there seems to a problem with empowering women to act for themselves. I do not want anyone, male or female talking for me. I want to represent myself. I don't want to rely on someone or some organisation to do my talking for me. If women spoke up for themselves then they would be more likely to get what they want. If they hide behind a collective skirt they will get what some committee thinks might be good for them. This is clearly not at all the same thing. - sue elliott
  • The ABC currently hosts two of the most partisan politicians from the Howard years, Peter Reith and Amanda Vanstone. How can anyone state that the ABC is unbiased while these two have voices? What's next Andrew Bolt hosting the 7.30 report? - Janet G
  • Ms Cooke, thou art a goddess! Thank you so much for Hermione the Modern Girl. Her 3 R's sustained me through uni in the late 80s - raucous, reckless and rather pissed. The Little Book of Crap and Foxy Ladies enlightened my 90s. Up the Duff and Kid Wrangling are brilliant and Girl Stuff has been gifted with Auntly abandon to all 3 neices with an emphatic 'read it and keep yourself noice!'. Keep up the splendid work. - Miss Liss
  • I like the ABC and more so SBS. Even if they are a bit slanted, where's the harm in giving them voice in a digital world that is fairly loaded in favour of the world view scripted and distributed under Rupert's planetary straight jacket. Given the state of traditional media today (like Fairfax and Ten), what would anyone pay for them? They have always had a role to play. What has changed? Our politicians seem to operate for narrow vested interests these days, not for the general population. What would you expect? We are unaligned muppets compared to powerful unions and corporations that ruthlessly chase their own corporate goals. Politicians are only accountable one day every four years. Why would you expect them to talk straight to the electorate? We are only here to maintain them in the style to which they have become accustomed. People, we are being disenfranchised by politicians and bureaucrats. - Simon
  • One of my favourite interviews was Emma Alberschreechie interviewing Lord Bragg. Her over-excitement at being in the presence of such an eminent lefty was plain to see. Lord Bragg is one of those rare creatures, a lefty with common sense, a grip on reality and without blind hate. We have very few of them in Australia. Emma was effervescent with excitement in anticipation of him ripping Rupert a new one - oops, didn't happen. He gave a thorough, measured and dignified reply that supported Murdoch. Ok, let's try again ... Christians! Surely he hates godbothers? Oh dear, poor Emma's eyes nearly did a Sarah Hanson Young impersonation. He actually credited the Bible as, among other things, being the tool that gave the masses the courage to rise up out of slavery, the message that all men are equal, to those who would oppress and said that it is the most powerful instrument for good. Ooops. Soz, Em, it's not just the words alone that give away the bias of the ABC journos and our left leaning apologist media, it's in your voice and body language as well. - Gee
  • So, sue, if there is no bias, how is it that you've detected a 'savage swing to the right?' If it wasn't so left, none of you would watch it! Do you know that they fail to report information that could reflect badly on the govt? It's time to put Aunty to bed, I'm afraid. Only the rusted ons watch her anymore. And again, I'm not a man. - Gee
  • Wouldn't that be nice Ro, but this is Australia: the horses will go without grass every few years and have to make do with hay, and the ABC and journalists will always cop flack, just like lawyers! - Dodieh
  • You have been around for some time and I have been watching you for the same time. I haven't picked up any political bias on your part. At times I do look for bias, but I have never bothered with you. But I do nail my political colours to the mast by saying, surely you are not so naive to think that when Abbott is elected, he won't indirectly have any say over ABC appointments. - Andrew
 
Categories:  News and Opinion

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS

As news emerges that Coles and Woolworths have lodged hundreds of trademark applications for new home brand goods, the wise words of our Hoopla community have never seemed more timely.

When The Hoopla asked its first ever Highwire question – How ethical is your food basket -  the Woolworths/Coles duopoly emerged as a major concern.

Author Mary Moody said it was difficult for any Australian consumer to have an ethical shopping basket “as long as the two major supermarkets continue to have such a monopoly on our spending dollar”.

And our shopping choices seem destined to be squeezed even further, reports The Sydney Morning Herald, with the supermarkets lodging applications for goods ranging from organic food, hardware, baby products, liquor, bed linen and cosmetics.

It’s a strategy that will put even more pressure on brand owners and manufacturers.

The global food manufacturer Heinz has already criticised the supermarkets for their growing dominance of home brands and heavy discounting, calling Australia the ”worst market” and an ”inhospitable environment” for suppliers, says the Herald.

It’s a scenario Mary (left) has witnessed first hand:

“Living near a country town (Bathurst) it’s sad to see so many small locally owned businesses going down the drain while the huge supermarkets continue to thrive and expand,” she said.

“There were eight butcher shops when we moved here 10 years ago and now there are only two.

“And they are struggling. I am sure it’s the same everywhere. I say bring back the greengrocer and fishmonger and encourage more farmer’s markets.”

It is a concern echoed by former politician and Director of Social Business at the Centre for Social Impact at NSW University, Cheryl Kernot, a committed purchaser of Fair Trade products.

She gets around the issue of the supermarket duopoly in fresh fruit and vegetables by buying from Food Connect Sydney, “the offspring of the original Food Connect in Brisbane – whose vision is to be a leader in making ethically grown food from local farmers accessible to any household in Sydney”.

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4 Responses to this article

  1. Paulline November 23, 2011 Reply
     
     

    My husband’s family was in a liquor store for years and very successful. Then the major supermarkets moved in and the independents had no chance. I worked for a brewer at the time they sold the shop and I know they weren’t getting the same prices that were offered to the big buyers. It made it very hard to stay in business because even customer loyalty will not survive cheaper prices elsewhere. In some instances the large sellers were selling beer cheaper than the independents could buy it.

    What is inevitable is that once the local greengrocer/butcher/liquor store closes down and there is only a Coles or Woolworths to shop at, the prices will certainly go up. The same thing has happened with the petrol stations.

     
  2. cath November 23, 2011 Reply
     
     

    have you noticed lately that both these supermarkets have cut their organic produce down-especially meat- their excuse-is just too expensive! Rubbish-they just don’t want to pay the extra for what food ‘really’ costs as their profit margins are lower with organic-so they have squeezed major meat suppliers so low – the farmers are now supplying Korea and Japan-as they know the value of food! the reason why we dont-probably as we have never had such issues as radiation poisoning and mass food poisoning in Japan or other countries. I live in the hinterland between Byron and Lismore: you cant get toilet paper at the farmers market so
    I have to go to the duopolies-but as I go in I see them unpacking fresh flowers from MELBOURNE! So much for supporting the local people-Greedy bastards wont take delivery from here-too expensive for the consumer they say-something should be done!

     
  3. DivaDawn November 23, 2011 Reply
     
     

    We can’t believe the the major two Unfortunately it’s the low income families that pay for cheap imports because that is all they can afford . I wish we could all buy Australian made and have the Australian government put bans on the cheap imports and give Australian manufacturing a fairer go and not give in to China and India to impress them they don’t give a Fig about us .

     
  4. cath November 24, 2011 Reply
     
     

    ok since the comments on this subject are few, I feel I should also note that when Coles came to ‘renegotiate’ their prices for cattle with a dear close friend-who because of his volume of sales virtually controlled the organic beef -their price was so low (below cost of production) that he said he would have to sell elsewhere-of course their usual tactic is to squeeze you out of the market so you can’t survive without them-but my friend decided not to yield and sold the lot to South Korea. Coles now have ‘hormone/chemical free’ beef-as they no longer have supply of organic.But think about it- who certifies that its hormone free?! there is no certifying body or judge for that-its a con as they can’t prove or disprove it. I just have to shake my head……..why do people believe them? and look what they are doing to a farmer who is just trying to do the right thing! shame

     

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Comments

  • Gee: Two does not balance make, Janet G. It's time to privatise or shut it down. It's a parasite.

  • Gee: No, I didn't say that there are NO jobs that you can't take your children to or interrupt your schedule for. Your bile m...

  • sue elliott: Sharon, I am merely suggesting that you help yourself. If we wait around for legislation or court appeals or whatever el...

  • Janet G: The ABC currently hosts two of the most partisan politicians from the Howard years, Peter Reith and Amanda Vanstone. How...

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