This year, the shopping cart is more expensive, a trend noted by OCU, which keeps records dating back to 1988. In July, prices rose 15.2 percent from May of last year to July 2022, and the increase is expected to continue in the near and medium term. In recent months the rise persisted, with a 0.9 percent uptick over the last four months. OCU is urging the government to reduce food taxes, similar to energy taxes, and is proposing that supermarkets engage in bulk purchasing to offer healthy and essential products at affordable prices after earlier attempts by the first vice president, Yolanda Díaz, to make shopping cheaper failed.
Bulk purchasing is a common tool in sectors like energy and telecommunications. In practice, a supermarket negotiates a deal with a distributor to secure certain products at a lower price due to the large volume committed. A notable example comes from electricity and gas programs run annually by OCU, which this year saw a deal between Repsol and about 20,000 consumers, estimated to save around 241 euros on the annual bill.
OCU has recommended a broad distribution model that invites participation from small, medium, and large supermarkets. The CNMC would have limited leverage since this is a bilateral agreement between the distributor and the consumer organization. A spokesperson for OCU, Ileana Izverniceanu, explained during the annual supermarket presentation that there is still debate about which specific basket to endorse, but it is clear which framework is being recommended.
OCU also noted a preference to keep certain products undisclosed for now, recognizing that lists may evolve. The proposed list of food groups includes vegetables, fruit, potatoes and tubers, bread, pasta and rice, legumes, nuts, fish, eggs, milk, fresh and aged cheeses, fermented milk products, meats, olive oil, and water. This aligns with what El Periódico de Catalunya reported, a newspaper affiliated with Prensa Ibérica.
The list mirrors government objectives to emphasize fresh produce and reduce reliance on the 30-euros-per-30-products plan announced by Carrefour. One observer remarked that a supermarket brand has proposed a basket that resembles a joke with items like white chocolate waves and salt monthly purchases, while the goal remains to include products that actually appear in typical family budgets. Izverniceanu emphasized the focus on practical, affordable food items.
choose the supermarket
Beyond government and supermarket roles, OCU guides consumers to select supermarkets that maximize savings on an average household food budget, which can reach about 5,568 euros and represent around 17.5 percent of total expenditure. Chains considered among the most affordable include Tiffer in Castilla y León and Dani, a local chain mainly operating in Granada. Nationally, Family Cash, Alcampo, and Supeco rank among the most affordable. Conversely, Sanchez Romero, Ulabox, Novavenda, and Amazon appear among more expensive options. Alcampo is the cheapest in 27 locations; Mercadona follows as the most affordable in 10 locations, with 17 locations for another chain and Supeco covering seven cities from last year. It is noted that Mercadona’s strategy included Dia, the discount chain, which saw price increases tied to its own brand lines.