Prices for grapes in major supermarkets have surged dramatically in recent weeks, with some retailers showing increases that approach or exceed two hundred percent in a short span. This finding comes from ongoing price surveillance conducted by Facua-Consumidores en Acción, which followed eight large supermarket and hypermarket chains across the country over several months to gauge how grape costs have moved in the market as a whole.
During October, a 500-gram package of El Mercado brand seedless grapes was available at Aldi for 1.19 euros. By November, the same item was listed at 3.19 euros, and in December the price had climbed again to 3.89 euros. In just two months, Aldi recorded a price increase of 227 percent for this product. The trend reflects a broader pattern across other major retailers observed in the study, illustrating how the price trajectory for a common fruit can shift substantially in a compact time frame.
At Alcampo, the same 500-gram tray of seedless white grapes moved from 1.79 euros in October to 1.92 euros in November and then to 3.00 euros in December, marking a 67 percent rise over the period. Mercadona also posted a sizable rise, with prices jumping from 1.75 euros in October to 2.73 euros in December, a 56 percent increase. Eroski saw a similar trend, moving from 1.74 to 2.72 euros in the same window, a 53.7 percent gain. Lidl reported a jump from 1.69 euros to 2.69 euros, equating to a 59 percent increase, while Carrefour’s price for the same 500-gram package climbed from 1.84 euros in October to 2.65 euros in December, a 44 percent increase. Across these chains, the pattern shows substantial mid-winter price pressure on ordinary table grapes, even as holiday demand remains high.
Facua notes that the value-added tax on grapes, like other fruits and staple foods, has recently been reduced from 4 percent to 0 percent. According to the governing royal decree, price changes for these items should reflect changes in production or logistics costs, and not be arbitrary. The organization also compared grape prices in December 2023 with those in December 2022 to gauge longer-term movements, basing its conclusions on multiple observations taken on key dates in December, including the 5th, 12th, 15th, and 18th. This historical lens helps contextualize whether current price elevations represent a temporary spike or a longer-term shift in the market structure for fresh fruit.
Looking specifically at Aldi, the El Mercado 500-gram tray of seedless grapes now costs 3.89 euros, up from 2.69 euros in December of the prior year, a rise of 44 percent. Lidl showed a similar year-over-year movement, with the same product increasing from 2.69 euros in December last year to the current price, reflecting a roughly 35 percent uplift. Mercadona’s 500-gram tray rose modestly from 2.50 euros in December last year to 2.73 euros in December this year, a 9 percent increase. Hipercor reported that a kilo of white seedless grapes is more expensive than a year ago, climbing from 6.95 euros in December 2022 to 7.59 euros in December 2023, a rise of 9 percent. The data point to a heterogeneous price landscape across major retail chains, with some stores maintaining relatively restrained increases while others exhibit more aggressive pricing during the same period.
Amidst the broader price environment, three chains emerged as offering grapes at a lower price point than a year earlier for the New Year period. For instance, Alcampo’s 500-gram pack of seedless grapes was 3.19 euros in December 2022 but stood at 3.00 euros in the latest December, representing a 6 percent discount compared with the prior year. This relative discount is notable in a market where several competitors posted double-digit year-over-year increases, suggesting that some retailers used promotional or cost-control strategies to offset broader inflationary pressures. The study underscores the importance for consumers to track price movements across multiple retailers and to consider alternative shopping options when seeking to minimize expenditure on popular items during peak demand times.
Overall, the price dynamics described by Facua illustrate how even essential fruits can experience rapid price volatility driven by supply chain factors, seasonal demand, and policy changes. For shoppers watching grocery bills closely, these findings highlight the value of comparing different stores, noting that modest price differentials can accumulate into meaningful savings over the course of a month or a season. They also emphasize the potential impact of policy shifts on consumer costs, as reductions in value-added tax and other tax considerations can influence the final price seen on the shelf.