Woolworths has scored a victory over Coles in the supermarket war
* Comparable food sales growth of 1.9pct for first half of 2016/17 vs 1.3pct growth for Coles
* Second quarter comparable sales up an even stronger at 3.1pct, vs 0.9pct growth for Coles
* Turnaround from last year when Woolies first half comparable sales declined 0.8pct
* Woolies has spent more than $1 billion to lower food prices in a year
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* The price cuts have hit supermarket earnings - down 13.9pct to $811.6m in the half
* Liquor business is also strong - earnings up 3.1pct to $302.3m
* BIG W is still in trouble - earnings down 89 per cent to $8.1 million
* Woolworths expects further improvement in second half except for BIG W
