Aussie DIY competition may heat up

MELBOURNE, Australia ― A rumoured merger between two players in Australia’s home improvement market is just the latest twist on the competitive scene in that country, which may give new headaches to the country’s largest DIY retailer, Bunnings. Mitre 10 and Home Timber and Hardware Group, which is owned by retail giant Woolworths, are reportedly in merger talks. Woolworths has already partnered with U.S. retailer Lowe’s to create the Masters Hardware chain of big boxes, which are creating competitive pressures for Bunnings.