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Jones said gaining market share, which currently sits somewhere between 8 and 10 per cent for an IGA, was not a zero-sum game and the stores did not need to be a one-stop shop destination for shoppers.

“We don’t need shoppers to turn their backs on Coles, Woolworths and Aldi and exclusively shop with us. We provide them with relevant and credible solutions to some of their needs.”

Jones was one among many supermarket executives called to front ACCC inquiry hearings held over the past fortnight in which Woolworths executives rejected the notion that the retailer was engaging in land banking.

Jones said he was surprised by Woolworths’ claim.

“They use the term strategic sites; that’s great, and I’m sure they are strategic. I want to be clear, they haven’t broken any rules; there are laws and regulations against land banking, and we’re not accusing them of that,” he said.

“But there are instances where sites are acquired and not developed, and then they can’t be acquired by independents.”

Liquor sales were a key highlight of Metcash’s results, growing by 2.1 per cent to $2.5 billion over the past half-year as shoppers turned to local bottle shops.

In contrast, Dan Murphy’s and BWS owner Endeavour Group recorded zero per cent growth in sales during the first quarter of the 2025 financial year. Coles recently commenced a trial to axe its Vintage Cellar and First Choice brand banners as it seeks to ramp up alcohol sales.

“What you’re seeing around the world is that shoppers are prioritising convenience. They’re time poor … we’re certainly taking advantage of that long-term trend,” Jones said.

Metcash intends to grow its national store footprint, currently at over 1300, by about 20 stores every year.

“Any market share losses we’ve experienced in the last 24 months are really as a result of not opening as many stores as the competitors,” said Jones. “It’s well ventilated how difficult and how costly it is as an independent retailer to open stores up against the majors.”

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