Coles Misled Shoppers With ‘Down Down’ Discounts, Federal Court Finds

The Federal Court says Coles misled shoppers with its ‘Down Down’ discounts, and could have used other discount methods.

People line up outside a Coles supermarket in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 2, 2020. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Coles misled consumers through its “Down Down” discount promotions in most cases examined by the Federal Court, which found the supermarket chain created the impression shoppers were receiving genuine savings when they were not.

In a judgment delivered on May 14, Justice Michael O’Bryan found Coles engaged in misleading conduct in 13 of the 14 product promotions examined by the Court.