Mitre 10 franchisee battles to stop Bunnings opening next door

Wesfarmers also owns Kmart and Officeworks."Bunnings has a substantial degree of market power," Mr Woodman's barrister Peter Strickland told the court, noting the retailer's "exclusive supplier arrangements" and "high barriers to entry".Bunnings declined to comment while the matter was before the court.Yet the company has long defended itself against anti-competitive concerns and previously told the ABC that the Jimboomba store would bring more choice and competition to the area and jobs It also argues that Metcash has exclusive ranges and a significant store network of company-owned and franchise Mitre 10 stores."Bunnings's decision to open a store in Jimboomba is part of a long-term plan to expand in growing areas," the company said last year."It is never about eliminating competition, rather we enhance competition as it's good for consumers."Bunnings has brought in a high-profile lawyer to argue its case, Garry Rich SC.The barrister recently won a bombshell case against another high-profile retailer, Coles, on behalf of the competition regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).On Friday, he argued Mr Woodman's case against Bunnings was based on "flimsy" assertions about his expansion plans and whether Bunnings's opening would actually shut down his store."There is nothing anti-competitive or unlawful of Bunnings depriving Mitre 10 of sales