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One of New Zealand's largest supermarket companies has been fined $17,000 after selling their home brand cereal which offered a chance to win a trip to Australia that had expired.
Progressive Enterprises runs Foodtown, Woolworths and Countdown.
The Supermarket group ran a competition for customers to win the trip to Australia between May 25 and August 31, 2006 but continued selling the items in 70 stores after the promotion had ended.
It was only in the terms and conditions inside the "Signature Range" cereal packets that the close-off date was mentioned.
Commerce Commission chair Paula Rebstock said the commission and the company received complaints from customers who entered the competition after the cut-off date.
"Many consumers are influenced in their purchasing decisions by promotions and competitions, and will choose to buy one product over another based on the possibility of entering a competition to win a prize," Ms Rebstock said.
- NZHERALD STAFF
