Farmers paid too little, shoppers charged too much – it’s a win-win for Australia’s supermarkets

Coles and Woolworths leverage their dominant position over smaller suppliers and consumers alike – and both groups are getting angry

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Farmers are pressuring supermarkets to raise produce prices, and shoppers want shelf prices lowered. Can both win?

As inflation eases, supermarkets would typically lean on suppliers to cut prices, with some of those savings passed on to frustrated shoppers to dissuade them from buying less or switching grocery stores in search of a better deal.