Inflation concerns as unemployment edges up; Multinationals urged to face supermarket inquiry

Multinational food manufacturers such as Nestlé and Coca-Cola are being pressed to front up to the Senate inquiry into supermarket prices and answer questions about their role in rising grocery prices.

NSW Liberal senator Maria Kovacic said Australians needed a clear indication of the power and influence wielded by these global corporations to better understand their role in influencing the prices of packaged food.

“I want to see major multinationals like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Kelloggs/Kellonova, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mars, Nestlé and Mondelez Australia front this committee to explain why Australians are paying more at the checkout for their products,” Kovacic told this masthead.

“These companies must respond to allegations and concerns that multinationals are a leading instigator of grocery price hikes. Australians deserve the full picture.”

So far, the inquiry has called food suppliers, farmer groups, consumer advocates, supermarkets Aldi, Metcash, Coles, Woolworths as well as Bunnings to appear.

Continue reading about the push here.