Woolworths prices rose on four staples during Price Freeze promotion
CW Scanner data identified increases in chicken fillets, potatoes, cinnamon donuts and three-bean mix during Woolworths’ three-month promotion.
Woolworths increased prices on at least four products included in its three-month Price Freeze promotion, according to pricing data analysed by comparison website CW Scanner and provided to Guardian Australia.
The promotion began on 1 May and covered 300 products Woolworths described as family staples. Chicken breast fillets rose from $9 on 29 April to $12 on 5 May, a 33% increase, before later falling to $4.20 on 17 August.
The analysis also found washed potatoes rose from $6 to $8 during the promotion, a pricing pattern that appears to have continued the product’s previous high-low cycle. A 12-pack of Woolworths’ own-brand cinnamon donuts increased from $3 to $3.50 before returning to $3.
A 420g can of Woolworths Mexican Style 3 Bean Mix rose from 60c to $1 on 17 June, before returning to 60c on 17 August. The analysis does not establish why the individual prices changed or how many products were affected in total.
Woolworths declined to comment on the findings. Its understood position was that the earlier prices were promotional prices rather than the standard shelf prices covered by the freeze.
Consumer advocates said the changes could leave shoppers unclear about the meaning of “price freeze” and “standard shelf price”. Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell had said the company would freeze shelf prices on 300 staples for three months.
The pricing analysis comes as Woolworths awaits a verdict in an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission federal court case involving alleged misleading “Prices Dropped” discounts.
