Since inflation took off, Systembolaget has gradually raised prices. In September 2022, prices were raised by an average of 1.9 percent. In March this year, there was a price increase of another three percent against the background of increased costs at suppliers.
On September 1, it is time for another price increase – now for the wines. A bottle of wine that last autumn cost SEK 119 can now be around SEK 10 more expensive.
Historically weak against the euro
The culprit in the drama is the weak Swedish krona. Last week, the krona hit a record low when it stood at 11.83 against the euro.
— I don’t have a summary of what it will look like on September 1. But the most Systembolaget has raised so far is three percent. Otherwise, the cost increases seem to have moderated a little. But the weak krona is doing its job, says Ulf Sjödin, responsible for the product range at Systembolaget, to DN.
The price increase risks being significantly higher than the 3 percent that Systembolaget raised in March. Leif Stålbalk, wine importer at Principium Drink, fears that.
“If we take out the full margin, the price increase will be greater than that,” he tells the newspaper.
Less access to glass
He emphasizes that many products come from euro countries and with the weakening of the krona against the euro, imports take a hit.
Leif Stålbalk finds it difficult to assess exactly how much it might be. Import costs for his own business have increased by around 7.5 percent during the year due to the weakened krone exchange rate. If he looks even further back, the increase lands at 10 to 15 percent.
— In addition to that, we have higher logistics costs, transport costs and slightly higher raw material costs. Among other things, many glass bottles are made in Ukraine and due to both the pandemic and since the war, the availability of glass has become worse. It is more difficult for our producers to get hold of.