Food Prices - are some companies profiteering?

[Moonopoly]

Just wondering what your thoughts are. I went in to Co-op near us and the Nescafé (admittedly large) was £8 a jar!
I generally shop in Aldi, Heron Foods or Iceland but occasionally nip in to Sainsburys, Co-op or Morrisons. The former have had small price increases but the later seem to have some crazy leaps in cost!

I am sure the fuel costs have driven up the price of food but wether this is the only cause I am unsure.

@Bertieboo82 Im not talking about them forcing profit making companies to take the brunt but I’m saying they have it in their gift to make strategic decisions on things such as the cost of fuel that will impact that and then making sure those true cost reductions are reflected in the cost of food on shelves to prevent profiteering

@BarbaraofSeville I don't like lurpak but it's £9 a kg compared to £7 a kg for normal butter so not the same price at all!! Not the imaginary 4 blocks you mentioned 🙄

Yes I think you might be correct as many places seem to have put items up by 20% or more. The low cost supermarkets are trading on their reputation and seem to be the worst. They all made enormous profits during covid too so can’t blame that

I'm pretty sure that supermarkets and oil companies will protect their profit margins come hell rough water. It's the farmers, manufacturers and consumers that will bear the brunt of this cost of living crisis.

*come hell or high water

@Bertieboo82 will be interesting to see as the oil companies have had huge profits and prices are still rising

I agree with OP. But this is the face of modern capitalism.

Some if not all who voted the Tories in, got a big shock when this cruel form of capitalism started to affect them (as well as economically underpriviledged people).

Ultimately we know absolutely that endless competition does not work. Cooperation DOES. This is true of the climate crisis and just about every other crisis you can think of in society, including the economic one.

The 'trickle down' theory of economics on which modern capitalism is based, was discredited around forty years ago.

So called 'wealth' does not trickle down to those on the lowest rung of the ladder. All that happens with modern capitalism is that the rich get richer. Still, BUST is happening now and the Tories are flailing around as if it were a big surprise. It isn't. It is in the nature of this selfish. exploitative way of running an economy.

The thing is, they now have to put support measures in place for economically
poor' people - because if they all start getting ill at once (or even dying) then this is going to cost them even more money.

Don't imagine for one second it is because of the kindness of their hearts. They know they are in deep SHIT.

I've just received my online shop and it was the first one where I've noticed everything had gone up. It feels like £15 more expensive than usual and I cut loads out too. Up until now bits and pieces were more pricey but it's just hit the food I buy. So worrying

Vote with your wallet. There are other brands of butter snd other supermarkets. Lurpack profits must be plummeting stvthe moment.

Please outline your strategic recommendations.

If you do, I'll return the courtesy and take the time to reply to every point you make.

Look I get it, people are feeling the cost of living crisis starting to bite. We've been living in a stable cheap credit bubble with floor interest rates for 2 decades, plenty have been living right on the edge of affordability with no contingency for rate changes or savings to fall back on. And the chickens are well and truly coming home to roost.
The tide is going out and unfortunately it will expose those who've been swimming without a swimming costume.
There is no doubt that if people think it's rough now, in 12mths it will be worse.

Yes government needs to support the poor and financially vulnerable through grants and taxation. But the governments only source of money is from taxation - from shops that make profit, VAT when we all buy stuff and income tax from people who work. Allow that to diminish and it's actually reduced the money to support the poor.

To wail at the food companies / retailers is barking up the wrong tree I'm afraid.

But the governments finances oust covid are in dire straits.

they have to begin to rebuild and the tax on fuel is a good way to do it

we all suffer otherwise

@alwaysmovingforwards I’m not in Government nor am I share holder in a massive food company. It’s not my job to come up with solutions. However it is my right to question whether these companies are profiteering and/or the government voted to make the best interested decisions for us are enabling an environment in which food costs are spiralling. We all should be, otherwise where does it end? £10 for a loaf of bread?

@Bertieboo82 don’t be fooled. There’s always a ‘magic money’ tree if they need/ want it.

So op your thread is about you thinking supermarkets are profiteering from the crisis

when we have shown you that not the case

You now switch to…. The government?

@alwaysmovingforwards And I’m not wailing (great bit of misogynistic undertone of language there) we shouldn’t just be accepting it if companies are profiteering!

Are you a Sun journalist? Perhaps Daily express?

@Bertieboo82 thats the nature of conversation…it moves on?!

@Bertieboo82 Yep I’m
a journalist. You got me.

So now you’re back to blaming the supermarkets?

Ridiculous. So we can’t question the current state of things that directly impact us without being called a journalist. Brilliant.

Prices are going up across the board, for everything. But I noticed the other day superdrug have price freezes on their own brand stuff. The branded stuff is going up horrifically though. I might not like some of the own brand but soon I will have no choice.

@Bertieboo82 it’s a complex situation. Not sure why that’s an issue to discuss it in the round?!

Nothing unfortunately.

Your views are all over the place. I will leave you be

oh by the way - enjoy your holiday to Disney land Paris in August!