I think people are are too fixed on competing with Aldi on...

I think people are are too fixed on competing with Aldi on price. This will not happen and Aldi have a global scale and supplier network that will allow them to price more comepetive than anyone else.

Furthermore, Aldis customer experience is very different. It will not be possible to provide the same price point, while trying to provide a better customer experience through more fresh food and larger stores.

In Germany supermarkets that are similar to WOW, WES do not compete with Aldi on price. They compete with a completly different customer experience that include better and more choice of fresh products (vegetable, fruits), meat (usually these supermarkets have a butcher), fresh fish, a bakery that does not source their products from Asia and just sticks them in the oven to bake, more choice in every category, branded products, larger stores, .......

I think even Masters could be made work with good management and commitment. IMO there is room for two large scale hardware stores in Australia. WOWs strategy to build their shops next to bunnings and then having the wrong product mix just did not work...

Agree with the last poster, that this might be an interesting turn around candidate for private equity.