Ica, Coop, Lidl – and Axfood, which owns both Hemköp and Willys. The Swedish food trade is concentrated in a few players – now the Competition Authority will investigate whether the recent shock increase in food prices can be connected to a lack of competition.
“Probably doesn’t need to get used to us”
Food prices are the topic of conversation on everyone’s lips when Swedish food prices reach new record levels. According to the Matpriskollen app, prices rose in February by a further 2.5 percent. And the high prices may be here to stay:
– But we probably don’t need to get used to such huge price increases like the one in February – I really hope not, says Ulf Mazur at Matpriskollen.
According to the industry, there is a combination of factors pushing up prices: Disruptions in production chains due to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the recession and the weak krona are some of the factors that have been pointed out.
“Stealth Inflation”
But the price increase in Sweden is higher than that in our Nordic neighboring countries – something that may be due to the fact that we have a market that is far too concentrated in a few players.
Now the Competition Authority will therefore investigate whether the prices in stores have been unreasonably high, i.e. a so-called “stealth inflation” recently:
– This is called “stealth inflation”, that you take the opportunity to take more margin than the costs would actually have to entail, says Martin Bäckström, head of unit at the Swedish Competition Authority.
While it’s being investigated, it’s up to consumers to look for extra prices – watch in the player above