Greece’s “Household basket” with marked items premieres next week

Τhe so-called “household basket” with controlled and reduced prices for based goods will be introduced in Greece on upcoming Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

The 51 products that will make up the “household basket” will be found on supermarket shelves with this special mark.

The list of 51 items for the household basket will be updated every week, on Wednesday, and include everything from bread for toast, rice, eggs, spaghetti, toilet paper and even per food.

Consumers will be able to identify them on supermarket shelves by the special mark they will carry.

According to state broadcaster ERT, price hikes in these 51 items cannot be higher than the inflation rate.

It is recalled that the “household basket” will premiere on November 2 and, according to what has been announced, will be reportedly in force until the end of March 2023.

The creation of the “basket” is mandatory for all supermarket chains that in the previous financial year had a turnover of more than 90 million euros. It will be optional for all other businesses in the sector.

For non-submission of the list of products or for incomplete submission by the obliged enterprises, a fine of 5,000 euros will be imposed for each day of delay.

Speaking to ANT1 TV on Thursday, Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis said that “every supermarket chain will compete with others to have the cheapest ‘household basket.’ So, every chain will choose the products and the prices. [This week] we will see the companies’ baskets.”

He also added that “we have not imposed prices but we introduce a new space for competition between the chains. What we say to our compatriots is that those things that are absolutely essential, you will find at very good prices.”

He added that also other sectors that have shown interest to participate in such an action.

Note that until now, the “household basket” contains only staple and prepackaged items and not fresh (vegetables, meat etc) sold by weight at the counter.