Coles put commercial interests above its customers – and was caught red-handed

Reputation of Australia’s big supermarkets takes another hit as federal court finds Coles misled shoppers by promoting fake discounts

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Coles’s “Down Down” promotion is one of Australia’s best known campaigns. But the supermarket has been caught red-handed after a federal court judge found Coles misled shoppers by promoting fake discounts.

Through its proceedings, Australia’s competition regulator has given consumers an intriguing look-behind-the-curtain moment, exposing how a major supermarket sways shoppers to buy its products.