Competition regulators always seem to struggle with wholesale markets. If competitors can't be forced to compete, they can be prodded. Between unit pricing, creeping acquisition laws and the widely panned GroceryChoice website pricing comparisons, the ACCC has ticked the easy boxes. Changes in urban planning laws might deliver real market zip by encouraging foreign competitors like Costco to join Aldi. More could be done. If Metcash's practices are as sharp as the ACCC says, then action under section 47 of the Trade Practices Act on exclusive dealing might be appropriate. The ACCC could also revive the retail fair dealing code, and sharpen independents' collective bargaining with Metcash. It's too extreme to contemplate forcing Coles and Woolworths to divest their wholesale operations to create new wholesale competition. But the idea should be to pressure Metcash while opening opportunities for a second wholesaler and new retailers.