James Taylor’s Post

Great news 🗞️ - especially in light of the current cost-of-living struggles for most people: 🎄 Consumer finance website Little Loans has revealed that Lidl GB is the cheapest supermarket to buy a vegan-friendly Christmas dinner in the UK this year, costing £8.83 for nine items. (Source: Green Queen Media) 📉 The report states that other supermarkets are not far off either with Morrisons at £9.19, Aldi £9.42, Asda at £9.55, and Tesco at £9.70. 📈 Most expensive shops turned out to be Co-op at £15.23, Waitrose & Partners at £16.70, and finally Marks and Spencer at £16.80. 💰 According to Bracknell News, the cheapest non-vegan equivalent to these bears a cost of £29.88 (at Aldi UK). ➡️ a 238% increase to the lowest-cost vegan option. 💵 The cheapest whole turkey sells for an average cost of £20.93 (also at Aldi) - still £4.13 more than any of the 9-piece Christmas dinners compared in the report. 🌱 Another prime, myth-busting example of how plant-based diets are indeed not more expensive than their omni counterparts!

(AUSTRALIA 02.05.24) ‘Out-traded’: Food prices easing as Woolies boss admits failures [AG: Shedding Light on the Australian Fresh Produce Industry: The Need for Transparency] Australian supermarkets Coles and Woolworths reduce prices on red meat and fresh produce to attract customers. ----- [AG: Australian consumers welcome the news of lower prices on essential items like red meat and fresh produce at major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths. However, amidst the applause for reduced grocery bills, a critical question looms large: Why are these prices dropping? It's easy to celebrate the apparent benevolence of retailers adjusting their prices downward, but we must delve deeper to understand the true implications behind these shifts. Are these price reductions a result of retailers acknowledging their previously excessive profit margins and adjusting prices at their own expense? Or are they a consequence of increased pressure on suppliers, such as farmers and growers, to slash their prices even further, pushing them fuerther into unsustainable and unprofitable territory? The reality is that, to date, the fresh produce industry in Australia operates in what feels like the dark ages of supply chain transparency. We lack essential information about the cost of production, the prices paid to producers, the involvement of middlemen and the markup prices and profit margins applied by retailers before goods reach the consumer. In an era defined by technological advancements and solutions, the absence of supply chain transparency is baffling. Why does the Australian fresh produce industry persist in operating with such opacity, ignoring the imperative need for transparency? As consumers, we deserve to know the true story behind the products we purchase. We deserve transparency that extends from farm to shelf, allowing us to make informed choices about the food we buy and the companies we support. But transparency isn't just about consumer empowerment; it's also about accountability and fairness. Farmers and growers deserve to receive fair compensation for their hard work and dedication. They shouldn't be forced to bear the brunt of price pressures from retailers, struggling to make ends meet while their products line the shelves of supermarkets. It is high time for a paradigm shift in the Australian fresh produce industry and embrace transparency as the cornerstone of our food supply chain. By demanding accountability and advocating for transparency, we can build a more equitable and sustainable future for all stakeholders involved. It's time to bring our food supply chain out of the dark ages and into the light of accountability and fairness.] ----- https://lnkd.in/gHGCGCYE

Price drop is the biggest round of cuts Aldi has announced so far this year in the UK, with more than 50 items falling in price Aldi has announced it has lowered its prices on a range of fruit and vegetable products in the UK, including berries, grapes, tomatoes, apples and ready-to-eat salads. In what represents the biggest round of cuts Aldi has announced so far this year, around a quarter of its produce range is included, with more than 50 items falling in price by an average of 7 per cent. ”This year we’re aiming to cut more prices than ever before – helping our customers access the lowest prices possible,” said Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi. “At Aldi we are committed to making healthy and varied diets affordable for all – with many customers often coming to us for our low prices but staying for the award-winning quality.” Aldi noted that recent research had found the average UK adult only ate their recommended five-a-day four times a week. To help, it compiled a set of recipes using different fruit and vegetables to inspire the nation when cooking, available here. The retailer also recently revealed it spent an additional £1.3bn with British suppliers in 2023, who provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores. As part of Fruitnet’s Fruitbox series, Chris White recently spoke with Franka Rodriguez and Michael Fellner of Aldi South Group on the topic of responsible procurement. You can listen to the conversation here: Just what UK Growers need . KICKING when times are hard. it is OK to lower prices as long as the producer earns money. Buy for 50p sell for £1 profit 50p Buy for 50p sell at 75p That is lowering price. But to lower the buying price and retain the same proffit is exploting the Grower or producer. #tesco #morrisons #hydroponics #quality #herecomesthecrunch

**Aldi lowers prices across fruit and veg range** Aldi UK has cut prices across its fruit and vegetable range to make “healthy and varied diets affordable for all”. The discounter has lowered the price of selected fresh produce including apples, berries, carrots, chestnut mushrooms, grapes, tomatoes, onions, shallots, oranges and ready-to-eat salads. It marks the biggest round of cuts that Aldi has launched this year so far, representing around a quarter of the discounter’s produce range. More than 50 products will drop in price by an average of 7%. The discounter held its position as the UK’s cheapest supermarket this month, as consumer watchdog Which? found that a 72-item basket cost £129.24 at Aldi – over £40 less than Waitrose. Link to full article here - https://lnkd.in/e5DNNFtb #aldi #retail #valuethroughinsight

Countdown supermarket predatory pricing. The most expensive fruit you can buy in NZ - oranges pictured showing Countdown Supermarkets is up to DOUBLE the price of everywhere else. That cannot possibly be justified except by greed. Gee thanks Coumtdown for your so (un)helpful work on attacking the cost of living crisis. I’ve had enough of being fleeced for food staples. I will do a list comparison with the major competitor, and see if there is such a thing as competitiion in the grocery sector. And where for Pete’s sake is the new commissioner for grocery competitiveness? #costoflivingcrisis

I buy groceries and cook for myself. Besides buying whole grains, low-fat meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, here are a few tips I have over time found advantageous: 1. Aldi is able to sell meat inexpensively because the company cuts down on expenses in several ways. Aldi buys meat from regional farms, avoiding big brands and lowering costs. They source meat locally and are able to save on transport-related expenses. Aldi's small amount of stock reduces food waste, and stores keep a limited number of employees on payroll, which saves even more money. Aldi does not sell name-brand products, and they do not have in-house butchers, so lower labor costs mean lower prices. 2. Kroger (Pick n Save, Ralphs) sale prices are good but be sure to join as a member. You then just input your phone number to get discounts. Also, once a month you will get coupons and these are generally coupons for products you have purchased in the past. 3. Costco has high quality but perhaps too large quantities when it comes to grocery shopping. Best deal? Their $5 whole chicken baked multiple times each day. I can get 4 meals out of that chicken. And they have a very low-priced vodka that rivals Grey Goose - in terms of processing and distilling it is indistinguishable. Terrible waste of money going to restaurants and fast food joints. In addition you get far more fat, sodium and calories than you should. Eat well and exercise regulary. Don't smoke and get your BMI down to a healthy level. If you still die young it was because you weren't careful about picking your parents. https://lnkd.in/gcfdrkES

(AUSTRALIA 03.12.23) Coles and Woolworths to face Senate scrutiny amid claims of profiteering. Australia's major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, are set to undergo a Senate inquiry to scrutinize their market power and pricing decisions. Concerns have been raised that the supermarkets may have profiteered during a period of rising food costs and inflation. Despite recent high profits reported by the supermarkets, they deny price gouging, attributing their returns to productivity improvements and cost efficiencies. The inquiry will be the first to specifically focus on the major chains' practices amid calls to address concerns about high grocery prices and concentrated market structures. ----- [AG: An exclusive focus on Woolworths and Coles in a Senate inquiry would be insufficient for revealing the complete extent of profit and margin disparities within the Australian (fresh) food supply chain. A comprehensive investigation is necessary, encompassing all stakeholders, including independent retailers such as IGA, FoodWorks, Drakes, Foodland, our food service and hospitality industry and our plethira of post-farm gate operators such as our primary, secondary and tertiary wholesalers, traders, merchants, aggregators and similar entities that add complexity to our (fresh) food supply chain. The inquiry must delve into the actual production costs, transportation costs, payments to (fresh) food producers and map the post-farm gate journey of our (fresh) food. It should scrutinize the terms of trade, value addition and profits retained by each link in our supply chain. By extending scrutiny to all operators and gaining a comprehensive understanding of our (fresh) food supply chain, this inquiry will identify the issues leading to unprofitable returns for (fresh) food producers and inflated prices for consumers. Of particular concern are post-farm gate operators utilizing consignment models, ensuring profitability while offering inadequate returns to Australian (fresh) food producers. The inquiry should not neglect the multitude of intermediaries, including our privatized wholesale markets, revealing their accountability and fairness as supply chain operators. Addressing these complexities is pivotal for establishing fairness and transparency in our (fresh) food supply chain. The effectiveness of the Senate inquiry is contingent upon conducting a meticulous analysis of pricing dynamics throughout the entire fresh food supply chain. This necessitates not only advocating for but, more significantly, implementing and enforcing transparency and equity for all participants. Breaking down production cost: "If egg production cost 14 cents, why do we pay double" https://lnkd.in/g2gnHQiU ] ----- Supermarket giants called to face questions over having ‘too much market power’ https://lnkd.in/gxkZ94fV https://lnkd.in/gyWE7WmM

Will the proposed grocery code of conduct have any impact on food prices and the food industry? by Troy Media Sylvain Charlebois The proposed grocery code of conduct has sparked debate on just how effective it will be in stabilizing prices in Canada, and for good reason. #DrSylvainCharlebois #foodindustry #grocerycodeofconduct #Loblaw #opinion #TroyColumn #TroyMedia #Walmart

Will the proposed grocery code of conduct have any impact on food prices and the food industry? by Troy Media Sylvain Charlebois The proposed grocery code of conduct has sparked debate on just how effective it will be in stabilizing prices in Canada, and for good reason. #DrSylvainCharlebois #foodindustry #grocerycodeofconduct #Loblaw #opinion #TroyColumn #TroyMedia #Walmart

(AUSTRALIA 16.01.24) Supermarkets warned on pricing as government threatens tougher action. Major Australian supermarkets are under the threat of mandatory codes as the consumer watchdog, ACCC, takes a tough stance on their pricing practices. Concerns about these large chains exploiting suppliers and consumers have prompted a public inquiry into a potential mandatory industry code. The ACCC has even issued a legal threat against one major chain over questionable pricing claims. Coles and Woolworths, facing public backlash due to years of high food inflation, are the focus of a fresh review into the grocery code of conduct led by former Labor minister Craig Emerson. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is considering the shift from a voluntary to a mandatory code, with an emphasis on empowering the ACCC to combat grocery price gouging. The inquiry also delves into the lack of transparency in how supermarkets set prices, with calls for a comprehensive review from the farm gate to the checkout. University of Technology Sydney's Associate Professor Sanjoy Paul advocates for a mandatory food and grocery code to enforce penalties for supplier mistreatment. However, questions arise about the impact on consumer pricing practices, as major supermarkets are already voluntary code signatories. While a mandatory system may enhance enforcement of fair treatment to suppliers, there is still a need for further action to protect consumers and improve transparency in food pricing. ----- [AG:It is imperative to undertake a comprehensive examination of Australia's (fresh) food supply chain, extending scrutiny from the farm to the end-consumer. In order to foster long-term positive outcomes for both Australian food producers and consumers, there is an urgent call to push for the establishment of a real-time monitoring system. This system aims to establish a consistently fair and transparent (fresh) food supply chain, with continuous scrutiny of all participants, encompassing also our plethora of intermediaries such as wholesalers, traders, merchants, aggregators, and should even include our domestic Australian freight companies responsible for transporting our (fresh) food within Australia. The implementation of an end-to-end, persistent, and transparent system is essential to forestall the recurrence of efforts addressing disparities in Australia's (fresh) food supply chain in the future.] ----- https://lnkd.in/gVUNMXsU