"UK: Vegetables "more expensive in the supermarkets"
Fruit and vegetables were more expensive in even the cheapest supermarkets, and especially in the smaller "convenience store" versions of the big superstores, like Sainsbury's Local or Tesco Metro, according to Channel 4's Dispatches programme.
In 32 locations around the country, mystery shoppers visited local markets, independent shops and larger and smaller versions of big brand supermarkets.
Supermarkets were 12% more expensive, and convenience store branches 35% more expensive.
The convenience store branch of their supermarket was 28.9% more expensive than the main branch, with items on average 26% more expensive in Sainsbury’s Locals than in the Sainsbury’s supermarkets and 31% more expensive in Tesco Express than in the larger branches of Tesco.
But most shoppers are still buying their fruit and veg in the supermarket, with shoppers spending £69m in supermarkets, out of £81m spent in total in Britain on fruit last year. £88m out of £105m spent on veg was spent in supermarkets.
Fresh herbs have sky-high hike-ups in supermarkets, with coriander 76.98% more expensive at the supermarket convenience store than at the independent seller or 15% more expensive at the supermarket than at the independent seller.
The only item the researchers found that was cheaper was broccoli in a large supermarket, but even that humble veg was 21% more expensive at a supermarket convenience store.
Tesco and Sainsbury's say it is common practice for retailers to charge a small amount more for some products through their convenience store, due to higher operating costs in running these stores.
Source: huffingtonpost.co.uk