Retail Excellence Ireland dismisses findings from Consumer Association report
Retail Excellence Ireland says the Consumer Association's research sample size is too small to be representative when compared to 40,000 grocery SKUs
Print13 February 2013
Retail industry trade body, Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), has dismissed findings of a recent report from the Consumer Association of Ireland (CAI).
The CAI report found the price of ‘a typical basket of groceries’, including bread, milk, sugar and tea, has increased by 12% in less than two years. What is more, the association found that a 1kg bag of sugar has risen by 38% in that time. The CAI also pointed to almost identical prices for staple goods in many major supermarkets as evidence that there is a lack of meaningful competition on price.
However the REI states that the association’s figures contradict the official statistics from CSO which stated that in fact food and non-alcoholic beverage prices are down 6% since 2008.
David Fitzsimons, CEO, Retail Excellence Ireland, said: "REI members continue to offer great value and service even though they are operating in an extremely difficult trading environment. The pressure of recent years has left retailers weakened and even more so for those enduring onerous rents from legacy upward-only rent reviews".
"Despite what this report states, none of our members are ‘enjoying’ 12% food price inflation over the last few years. It must be noted that the sample size used for this research is too small to be representative, when compared to the 40,000 SKUs carried in grocery. Despite a small increase in grocery sales last year, a recovery has not yet taken hold and it is evident that no retailer has lost their focus on value for the consumer".
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