Discount Allegations Against Supermarkets: WKÖ Rejects Criticism

Rainer Trefelik, head of trade in the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), rejects the accusations from the Ministry of Social Affairs against food corporations, claiming they are misleading customers with discounts. There is generally "high transparency" in supermarkets, he said in the Ö1 "Morgenjournal," referring to weekly flyers and comparison options. He criticizes that politics is trying to blame the food industry for the high inflation.

Lawsuits Over Possible Misleading Discounts

As was made public on Thursday, the SPÖ-led ministry suspects a lack of transparency in the labeling of discounts on food products and is filing lawsuits against Billa, Spar, Hofer, and Lidl through the Consumer Information Association (VKI). The corporations are accused of not fulfilling their legal obligation to display the lowest price of the last 30 days during discounts, the ministry complains. For consumers, it is often unclear whether discounts actually bring savings or how significant these savings are.

WKÖ Trade Head Rejects Accusations

"I reject this general assumption," said Trefelik. He also takes issue with the fact that the lawsuit has not yet been delivered to the companies. The Trade Association also took a more detailed position in an "Open Letter" to the SPÖ: The food retail sector is affected, not the cause of inflation. State interventions, which have been discussed in the country since the debate initiated by Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ), should also be avoided. "Do not handle the local supply of our country carelessly politically," was the association's appeal.

As the "Morgenjournal" further reports, the Vienna Market Office has already conducted thousands of inspections of discount advertisements this year. In more than 500 cases, the price labeling was "not perfectly adhered to," and in 304 cases, charges were even filed, according to Alexander Hengel from the Market Office. In such cases, administrative fines of 500 euros are usually imposed.

ÖGB President Insists on Price Summit

ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian is calling for a "serious summit" with politics, industry, trade, and social partners in light of the high food prices. "We need to agree on what to do specifically to get this under control," said the union leader to the "Kleine Zeitung" (Friday). In May 2023, the then Minister of Social Affairs Johannes Rauch (Greens) organized a food summit, which ended without results. "I don't need any show summits," said Katzian.

The ÖGB head is pushing for a food price summit "as soon as possible." "I hope that after the government retreat, it will quickly be about getting all parties to the table." The union is calling for a reduction in VAT on food and an anti-inflation commission "to monitor and respond to prices." According to Statistics Austria, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by an average of 5.2 percent in July compared to the same month last year.

(APA/Red)

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