Government’s price measures should also cover ‘expensive’ c-stores: Which?

Government’s intervention of rising grocery bills “won’t touch the sides” without measures to make small grocery stores more affordable for low-income households, the chancellor has been warned amid reports that ministers are considering a voluntary price cap scheme.

According to consumer group Which?, a blanket approach to lowering supermarket bills will not address the problem if it does not address local stores and supermarket’s convenience chain stores as well.

A study comparing the availability of 29 everyday items during visits to large and smaller stores by Which? found that budget-range items were available less than 1 per cent of the time at convenience branches such as Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local. By comparison, the study of 123 Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco stores found that on average the biggest shops carried 87 per cent of the value items.

Which?’s warning comes after a recent survey by the organisation found that two-thirds of low-income families relied on local stores. A shopper buying groceries each week at a Tesco Express would spend an extra £800 a year compared with at a larger Tesco store or online, Which? found.

In the letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Which?’s director of policy and advocacy, Rocio Concha, said the cost of food was higher for those without access to larger stores and it was unclear whether an intervention such as a price cap would help consumers.

Which? called on the government to push supermarkets to agree to stock a range of budget foods in smaller stores.

“The government is right to be looking at how to support people with soaring food costs but unfortunately without addressing the issues hitting shoppers, and particularly those on low incomes relying on expensive convenience stores, these food price measures won’t touch the sides,” The Guardian quoted Sue Davies, Which?’s head of food policy, as saying.

“Ministers should prioritise securing commitments from supermarkets to stock a healthy and affordable budget range across their stores, including convenience stores and ensuring pricing is easily comparable so people can see which items offer the best value.”