A husband-and-wife team running a Nedlands IGA have reported Woolworths to the ACCC after 10 to 15 uniformed staff walked through their store, price-checking products just weeks before a new Woolworths opens one kilometre away.
James and Rita Kelly, who have run the Stirling Highway IGA for more than 30 years, were already bracing for a new Woolworths store set to open nearby within a month when the incident occurred last week.
CCTV footage showed the group of Woolworths employees, dressed in uniform, walking through the store studying products and displays, some with their arms folded behind their backs.
Store manager Steve Booker, who was on duty, said one staff member — apparently the group’s leader — told him they were there to “see how we can beat it and be better than you.” The group left after about five minutes and was seen huddling outside the store afterward.
Two uniformed Woolworths staff returned to the store again this week, this time buying a basket of produce.
The Kellys, who have been in retail for 35 years, described the incident as unprecedented and said it reflected the “arrogance” of Australia’s biggest supermarket chain. Rita Kelly said the pattern of scrutiny had intensified since the new store was announced, adding: “They’ve got the money and the power… they can decide to lose money on a store, just to run someone out of town.”
The couple has begun renovating their store, planning to shift focus toward fresh produce and local products rather than competing with Woolworths on packaged groceries and price.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the company would look into the “feedback” with its local operations team. The ACCC said it does not comment on reports received or potential investigations.
