The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced that Coles Group Limited's acquisition of a lease for a supermarket and liquor store in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, will undergo a Phase 2 review. This decision follows the ACCC's Phase 1 assessment, which did not approve the acquisition.

Coles plans to develop a large format supermarket and liquor store on a vacant site in Kalgoorlie, where it already operates one supermarket and three Liquorland stores. The ACCC expressed concerns that the acquisition could significantly lessen competition in the local grocery retail market, where rival supermarkets may not provide sufficient competitive pressure.

ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh highlighted that the acquisition could enhance Coles' market power in a region with limited competition and potential barriers to new entrants. The ACCC has not yet reached a conclusion and will continue its assessment during the Phase 2 review.

The ACCC is inviting submissions from industry participants and interested parties until February 13, 2026, as part of its in-depth evaluation of the acquisition's impact on competition in Kalgoorlie. This review marks the first acquisition considered under new notification requirements for Coles and Woolworths, which were established by the Assistant Minister for Competition.