A competition regulator has blocked plans for a second Coles supermarket in a Western Australian mining town that already has six supermarkets. Multiple reports say the corporate watchdog is testing its powers in the case and determined that allowing an additional Coles store would undermine local competition. The coverage notes that the decision relates specifically to the proposed entry of a second Coles outlet, rather than a general restriction on retail activity in the town. According to the articles, the town’s existing supermarket supply is a key factor in the regulator’s assessment, and the watchdog concludes that adding another major operator would not be consistent with maintaining competitive conditions for local shoppers and businesses.
All accounts describe the same outcome: the additional Coles store is denied. They also frame the matter as part of the regulator’s broader approach to reviewing market effects when large chains seek to expand within smaller localities.
