There Is A Feeling Among Shoppers That Supermarket Giants Are Taking Advantage Of Them

Two in three shoppers feel ripped off because supermarket colossi are charging much higher prices in their small convenience stores.

The figures come from Which? amid new research demonstrating that trust in supermarkets has fallen to a nine-year low.

The supermarkets typically charge more for the same product sold through their smaller convenience stores, such as Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local, than in larger outlets.

At the same time, their small stores have fewer of the cheapest budget lines, which makes life difficult for those who don’t have a car or can’t travel to large stores.

Rishi Sunak has asked the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate whether there’s any proof of profiteering or greedflation on groceries.

Separately, the CMA has already signalled concerns that the big supermarkets have raised profit margins on diesel, which has put up prices across the economy.

A Which? survey discovered that 67 per cent of people believe supermarkets are charging rip-off prices in their convenience stores.

Three-quarters (75 per cent) also said they find the cost of convenience store foods too costly compared to bigger supermarkets and almost half (45 per cent) struggle to find affordable food in convenience stores.

Which? said that worryingly, half (51 per cent) of those who rely on convenience stores at least once a week were struggling financially with the cost of living crisis, compared to a third (35 per cent) of consumers overall. The survey found that 57 per cent said that having more budget ranges in the convenience outlets would help.

The consumer champion is calling on supermarkets to improve the availability of essential budget options in their convenience stores.

Separate research in the Which? monthly consumer insight tracker discovered that trust in the groceries industry fell in May to the lowest it’s been since November 2014.

The confidence score measures just +36 – on a scale of – 100 to +100 – which means a drop of 32 points since it peaked at +68 in May 2020.

The Which? director of policy and advocacy, Rocio Concha, said that the trust in the grocery industry had fallen to a nine-year low, with many consumers telling them they felt ripped off by high convenience store prices, and that people shouldn’t have to pay over the odds for everyday essentials just because they struggle to get to a large supermarket.

Rishi Sunak clearly doesn’t shop in the same supermarkets as we do, otherwise, he would have discovered that supermarkets have raised their prices, and in some cases as much as double.

In some Tesco Express, it’s £3.60 for a jar of beetroot.

This significantly impacts pensioners who don’t drive. Although many people buy online once a month, but use Tesco Express for necessities like milk, bread et cetera. Also, many of the special offers are aimed at families, so if you’re a pensioner or single you end up having to pay more money to shop.

Small convenience stores like Tesco Express basket spend per square foot which exceeds that of the supermarkets. They’re gold mines, hence why they’re closing supermarkets and opening more mini-stores.

Co-op is another mini supermarket that has been increasing their prices on anything and everything lately and they have become eye-wateringly expensive.

However, wherever you go it’s costly. We are being ripped off in the larger stores and extorted in the smaller ones, and they’re profiteering at the expense of the public.

Nevertheless, it is a convenience store and if you want something quick, then it’s convenient and you don’t mind spending a little extra, but you also don’t want to be ripped off.