Saving the spending power of families by intervening with the elimination of energy charges until the end of the year, the lowering of VAT on consumer goods as well as full support for Federtrasporti’s requests to stabilize fuel costs at logistics support. These are the requests made by the consumer goods companies, gathered in Gs1 Italy with the sector associations Associazione modern distribution, the Industrie Beni di consumption association, Ancc-Coop, Ancd-Conad, Centromarca and Federdistribuzione. An attempt is thus made to stem both speculation and inflation and avoid future heavy repercussions on consumption and the economic recovery. “The extremely difficult situation we are experiencing requires incisive actions and great social cohesion to assist and support the institutions in their difficult responsibility” explains Francesco Pugliese, president of Gs1 Italy. This is also the answer to Gianpiero Calzolari, president of Granarolo, who last Saturday in the Sole-24 Ore had asked modern distribution for a six-month moratorium on supermarket promotions to which industry also contributes.
Since the beginning of the year, household budgets have been hit by a series of increases for raw materials and energy triggered by speculation and the war caused by Russia. Supermarket prices continue to rise and for Alberto Frausin, president of Federdistribuzione “now urgent interventions are needed to help low-income families – which he foresees -. The cost of the shopping cart, already increased by 4.2%, will rise by another point in the coming weeks ».
For their part, to save their accounts, families turn to cheaper products such as private label products and opt for discount stores (see the article on page ed). “Since February, the volumes purchased by large-scale distribution have increased by 10% because families try to stock up due to war psychosis or buy products with the distributor’s brand because it is cheaper – explains Ambrogio Invernizzi, CEO of Inalpi who produces butter, cheeses. and milk powder -. The industry has also increased orders with short-term deliveries on which minimal price increases are applied ». The transition to private labels is confirmed by Giorgio Santambrogio, CEO of the VèGè Group who confirms: «We are witnessing a transition from branded products to those of the brand, traditionally cheaper at the same quality – he says -. Even if the retailer’s brand products are affected by the combined effect of the price increases triggered by raw materials and energy ».
Day after day, the price lists remain under pressure. Among the latest alarms those of Assalzoo, the association of feed producers, which warns “There have been increases that are now unsustainable for companies” while the study by Crime & Tech and Checkpoint Systems shows, in the first half of 2021, an increase in thefts in Large-scale distribution with an increase in thefts of necessity.