Main content

Are supermarkets profiteering?

Food price inflation is near record highs, but are prices higher than they need to be? Evan Davis and guests examine the claim that customers are being ripped off.

Grocery stores are under pressure – with food inflation still near record highs, some have accused them of profiteering and the UK’s competition watchdog is investigating.

So what’s the evidence, if any, that supermarkets and other smaller stores are taking advantage of consumers, and what is a reasonable profit margin in this industry anyway? Food suppliers, large and small, also have a role to play here – we look at how their margins impact prices.

And, with government ministers vowing to curb food price inflation, we ask whether a cap on the cost of some products would help.

Evan Davis is joined by guests from across the industry to try to get a clearer picture of the UK’s food supply chain, and ask how fair it is on customers.

Produced in Partnership with The Open University.

GUESTS

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, founder of The Black Farmer
Teresa Wickham, retail analyst, fruit grower, and former advisor to Sainsbury’s and director at Safeway
Chris Noice, communications director, Association of Convenience Stores

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: China Collins
Sound: Graham Puddifoot and Neil Churchill
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 12 Jun 2023 11:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 8 Jun 2023 20:30
  • Mon 12 Jun 2023 11:30

Explore further with The Open University

Find out what can help to build sustainable organisations for better business.

Podcast