On 4 February 2025, after 47 years of trade, Woolworths closed its Neutral Bay store on Grosvenor Street, north of Military Road. Seventy-one days later, the same doors reopened as Coles. These changes set the frame for a simple question with awkward implications: do shoppers follow the brand—or the line of least resistance? In other words, does brand matter here—or does convenience win when the offer is broadly like-for-like?

This report is part of our Retail Tracker | Prime series, delivering monthly, data-driven insights into the performance of Australia’s...

In the challenging waters of Australia’s retail landscape, data-driven insights aren’t just a competitive advantage—they’re a necessity. Wit

Since April 2024, Australia's biggest malls have experienced a sharp decline in how often customers will visit and how long the stay.