PHOTO: ABC
Suppliers delivering garden plants to Australia’s leading hardware giant have come forward with accounts of treatment from the company that some allege is excessively harsh. The reported stress inflicted on nursery owners has reached such levels that it’s been cited as a factor in marital breakdowns, with individuals feeling akin to “slaves” or “serfs”.
These accusations are sparking inquiries into whether Bunnings is exploiting its dominant position in the market. Bunnings, a subsidiary of the ASX-listed conglomerate Wesfarmers, inaugurated its first outlet in 1994 and presently operates over 300 stores nationwide.
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According to data from IBISWorld, Wesfarmers commands 43.3 percent of the hardware market, although the company claims its portion of plant sales is closer to 25 percent.
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