How Supermarket Policies Could Affect Childhood Poverty

What does the report say Coles and Woolworths could do?

A Green Institute analysis compares the supermarket divisions’ combined $5.3 billion profit in 2025–26 with an estimated $4 billion annual cost of providing food to children living in poverty. It argues that the companies’ profits could cover that food bill, with some money remaining. ¹

The figures depend on estimates. The report’s coverage cites the Smith Family’s estimate that 1.2 million children and young people are living in poverty, while noting that official counts differ. It also cites Finder’s estimate of $3,305 in annual food costs for a child. These are figures reported by the source, not a universally agreed count or cost. ¹

Are Coles and Woolworths already funding food for children?

The available report does not say that either company has committed to fund a programme. It presents a calculation of what the profits could cover, rather than a confirmed plan for collecting money and getting food to children. ¹

Important practical details are not supplied, including who would qualify, what food would be provided, and how the support would reach families. The article also notes that the supermarket companies say their margins are falling, but the provided material does not give enough information to assess that statement in detail. ¹

What is the Fair Go Grocers idea?

Fair Go Grocers is a Green Institute proposal for a publicly owned grocery chain. National Seniors Australia’s account says the plan would have the federal government acquire 200 existing stores and three distribution centres, then construct 424 stores and 10 distribution centres over five years. The proposed chain aims to win 20% of the supermarket market. ²

The Green Institute estimates the chain could sell selected essentials for 30% less than Coles and Woolworths. It also projects an average saving of 22% per shopping trip, or $3,134 a year for a household of four. These are forecasts for a proposed business, not measured savings from an existing chain. ²

This proposal focuses on grocery competition and prices. It is distinct from the report’s calculation about using supermarket profits to meet children’s food costs. ¹²

What are the Victorian Greens proposing?

The Victorian Greens have proposed a trial of 10 publicly owned local supermarkets, split between Melbourne and regional areas. The party says the stores would offer essential groceries at prices 30% below those of major supermarkets and would include locally sourced and seasonal products. ³

The proposal also calls for the Essential Services Commission to set maximum prices for selected essential groceries and minimum prices paid to farmers for some products. The supplied source describes a party plan; it does not say these stores or powers are already in place. ³

What could these proposals mean for families?

A food-support programme could address children’s food needs directly if it were established and reached the families it intended to help. Public supermarkets or price controls, if implemented as proposed, could instead aim to lower the cost of groceries more broadly. ¹²³

The sources do not provide evidence of actual savings or outcomes from these proposals. They describe different approaches: using profits to fund food, creating a national public retailer, and testing public stores and grocery price rules in Victoria. None is reported here as an implemented solution to childhood poverty. ¹²³