Retail News at a Glance, 3 November 2026

Retail News at a Glance, 3 November 2026. What happened this week in Australian retail and retail technology.

Coles comparable supermarket sales rise 2.7%

Coles Group's comparable supermarket sales rise 2.7 per cent in the 13 weeks to 27 September, against 4.6 per cent a year earlier, the company says. Supermarket e-commerce sales rise 22.9 per cent to $1.6 billion; liquor sales fall 1.3 per cent. Why it matters: comparable growth in Coles' largest division is almost two points lower than a year ago. Coles Group.

JB Hi-Fi Australian sales fall 1.4%

JB Hi-Fi's Australian sales fall 1.4 per cent from 1 July to September, Inside Retail reports from the company's annual meeting. The Good Guys sales fall 0.4 per cent and E&S 4.5 per cent. The board says sales slowed in October. Why it matters: the retailer goes into Black Friday and Christmas with sales below last year. Inside Retail.

Macpac sales fall 14.3% as Super Retail slows

Super Retail Group's like-for-like sales rise 0.2 per cent in the first quarter of FY27, the company says in its annual meeting trading update. Supercheap Auto rises 2.5 per cent, Rebel 0.3 per cent and BCF falls 1.1 per cent. Macpac total sales fall 14.3 per cent and its like-for-like sales 11.7 per cent. Why it matters: the group says industry-wide headwinds are weighing on discretionary spending. Super Retail Group.

H&M pays $138,600 over kids' nightwear labels

H&M pays $138,600 after the ACCC issues seven infringement notices over 4,473 items of children's nightwear sold without fire-hazard labels or with inaccurate ones, Inside Retail reports. Why it matters: the penalties follow recalls of the same products in July 2024, April 2025 and June 2025. Inside Retail.

Small business retail sales rise 2.4%

Small business sales rise 5.2 per cent year on year in the September quarter, down from 7.3 per cent in the June quarter, Xero's Small Business Insights shows. Retail trade sales rise 2.4 per cent. Why it matters: small retailers are growing sales at less than half the all-industry rate. Xero.

DoorDash agrees to buy Instacart for US$17 billion

DoorDash agrees to acquire Instacart for US$65 a share, an equity value of about US$17 billion, at least 75 per cent in cash, the company announces. Completion is expected at the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028, subject to approvals. Why it matters: DoorDash would own Instacart's US grocery delivery marketplace alongside its own. DoorDash.