Yolanda Díaz and Alberto Garzón push for a government-backed basket of essential foods
On Monday, Third Deputy Head of Government Yolanda Díaz and Consumption Minister Alberto Garzón pressed for a core list of essentials that hypermarkets and supermarket chains should promote. The proposed basket includes fresh meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, and items suitable for people with celiac disease, aiming to support healthy eating across families.
Following discussions with distribution chains and consumer representatives at the Ministry of Labor, Díaz announced that the government intends to design a basket that ensures a healthy diet for households. The framework is meant to guide organizations that choose to voluntarily align with the government’s plan to curb food prices and promote offers that help families manage inflation and preserve purchasing power.
This is a sample 30-euro basket from Carrefour: olive oil or fresh produce
What Carrefour includes in its 30-euro list and what it omits
The vice president did not back the Carrefour list of 30 products for 30 euros presented last Friday, noting that it excludes the fresh foods the government intends to add to the basket. The Carrefour lineup includes sunflower oil, vegetable pasta, wheat flour, canned chicken soup, tuna in sunflower oil, meatballs in sauce, juice varieties, and sliced bread. Milk is absent, but basic breakfast items like ground coffee are present. The array also features María cookies, oats, and cornflakes, along with savory options such as white chocolate, lemon tea, peach jam, and hamburger buns. Canned items include sea salt, peas, sweet corn, piquillo peppers, mushrooms, and white wine vinegar. Beyond food, the basket contains hygiene and cleaning products like dishwasher detergent, hand soap, bleach, glass cleaner, toothpaste, bandages, shower gel, and toilet paper.
Díaz explained that the basket’s content was being drafted ahead of Friday’s meeting with Carrefour, where executives expressed willingness to collaborate. The government views this as a basis for proposals that could shape how the market responds to price pressures.
Upcoming discussions
Representatives from eight consumer organizations and major supermarkets, plus groups within ACES and ASEDAŞ, were expected to join efforts to offer essential food and hygiene products. The aim is to reach an agreement swiftly, ideally well before the Christmas season, with a plan to review different proposals from both the government and the industry. A future meeting has been scheduled to refine the options on the table.
The government described a cooperative atmosphere among industry players when outlining possible directions for the project, emphasizing a shared goal of protecting households from inflation while maintaining fair competition.
Legal considerations
Díaz stressed the legal soundness of the initiative, assuring that it complies with Spanish and European laws while respecting competitive principles. She noted that the government has informed the head of government and that the executive branch is exploring additional related proposals that could reinforce the effort.
Impact on small businesses
The vice president welcomed criticism from small retailers regarding big chains’ attempts to launch core product offers. Industry voices warn that larger promotions could pull customers away from local shops. Díaz argued that targeted margins could be controlled to avoid squeezing smaller businesses, suggesting campaigns to support local trade and keep consumer options diverse. In her view, a balanced approach would help sustain community shops while addressing consumer needs.