The president of the Consumer Institute spoke of a show of mockery and deception of citizens, completely dismantling the Development Minister's narrative about the household basket.
Ο George Lechouritis spoke last night on Kontra TV to emphasize that nothing has changed in supermarkets and to complain that «producers sell cheaply and we buy expensively.».
«We said it before, private label products and promotional products will be introduced. What has changed? Nothing. The only thing that has changed is the lies that the Minister of Development continues to tell. Mr. Adonis has gone beyond politics. What did he tell us? That the products had better prices than in previous days. Shall I show you the brochure I have in my hands? The prices are the same as in the household basket. And it's a special offer brochure. So what has changed? Nothing!» he said emphatically.
Elsewhere in his speech, he launched an attack on the minister, noting, «He put on a show on television. I did the real market research. I went to e-katanalotis and checked out some supermarkets. There are private label products, at 80%-90% in some supermarkets. There are also branded products, but they are products in the special offer leaflet. I don't need to advertise which supermarket it is, as the minister did for branded pasta... they may have had a list price of €1.42, but with the offers, the supermarkets were selling them for €1.2-1.27. Wanting to confirm this himself, he made one “blunder” after another. As INKA, we have data, and we are presenting it. It proves that what we are saying is true, that what the minister is saying is a lie... for eggs, detergents, personal care products... I saw them in the sales brochure, they were exactly the same prices as those on e-katanalotis... there is also a case, possibly a typographical error, where the brochure has cheaper prices.
He also expressed his annoyance, citing the debate over milk as an example and stating, «Regarding the much-discussed milk, which he says costs €1.12, all supermarkets sell private label milk for €1.12. Was he not ashamed to pick up German milk, which is produced and packaged in Germany and sold by a Greek supermarket?».
Mr. Lechouritis reiterated INKA's proposals, stating, «There is a solution, and it is specific. It lies at the source where a product originates. How much is sold in the field? How much reaches the consumer? What profit margin should it have, 100%, 200%, 500%? It cannot be 1.500%, with olives, for example, selling for 40-50 cents and reaching the consumer at 7-8 euros. Producers cannot complain that they are selling cheaply and consumers are buying expensively. Lemons are sold in the field for 35 cents, but reach €1.80 at retail. Pears, apples. We know how to do market research; it's not just the ministry that knows how. But we've been in the business for 52 years, we know what accuracy and the market mean, we're not in an office but on the street. We search and we go, investigating.
Finally, he stressed that the only solution is to reduce the Special Consumption Tax on fuel, explaining that «this will lead to a reduction in market prices, production costs, and energy costs. Automatically, product prices will fall. The government's claim that a reduction in excise duty is not in the interests of public finances is a joke. Those who do not benefit are those involved in fuel smuggling. The higher the excise duty, the more smuggled fuel is in circulation. That is the real picture.».
He also stated that he was opposed to the prospect of reducing VAT to the European average, pointing out that «we saw this when VAT was reduced from 24% to 13%. Coffee and services did not become cheaper.».
Furthermore, he reminded us that the Ministry of Development has a National Consumer and Market Council (ESKA) that «meets once or twice a year. Since Mr. Georgiadis left, I don't remember him participating in ESKA even once. He is omniscient, all-wise, and has no need for the productive classes or consumer organizations to discuss anything.».
It's sold out
For his part, the Minister of Development continues to promote the government's new measure, which citizens remain unconvinced about, by conducting a new television tour of supermarkets.
Ο Adonis Georgiadis He claimed that «in all chains, household shopping baskets are selling very well; to put it bluntly, they are ”flying off the shelves”. They can't keep up with filling the shelves with the products in the basket.».
«Prices have started to fall. The basket is doing well, people are supporting it and buying in bulk, and prices are starting to fall, which is of interest to consumers,» added Mr. Georgiadis, acknowledging that a solution must be found for specific groups, such as diabetics who do not have access to certain products.
