Last week, calls for boycotts were spread by big food giants on social media.
Instead of a rod on the conflict, ICA trader Mattias Kjellgren in Hökarängen chose to invite to question time about the high food prices.
– I felt that a dialogue was needed and that we would talk to each other instead of against each other, he says.
Last week, consumers were invited to refrain from shopping on the big food chains as a protest against rising food prices. Mattias Kjellgren describes himself and other ICA store owners as independent traders who have to make a small profit to walk around.
– We are our own entrepreneurs and have to make money to maintain renewal and environmental requirements for, for example, coolers, he says and continues:
– The small profit we have today is small enough for the industry to remain in a good way.
Question time almost every day
To meet customers’ questions and concerns, Mattias Kjellgren arranged for several days an open question time outside the store. There he offered coffee and distributed information sheets, while the Hökarängs residents had to ask what questions they wanted.
– I tried to answer the questions that customers chose to ask. The most common questions were how the price of basic goods can be so high and how we at ICA work, says Kjellgren.
Hope for more meetings
Afterwards, he describes the initiative as very rewarding, and hopes to continue with more information meetings in the future to increase openness.
– It was nice to have a dialogue, and that it does not only happen on social media, says Mattias Kjellgren.
Although Mattias thinks he needs to take higher prices to go around, the meetings have nevertheless led to greater understanding-not just with customers and for how the ICA business works.
– I have full understanding that customers think prices are high, he says.