site.btaCompetition Watchdog Notes Retailers’ Measures to Improve Food Price Transparency

As part of its sectoral analysis of the market for basic foodstuffs, the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) has taken note of measures taken by large retail chains aimed at increasing the predictability and transparency of food prices, the CPC press service reported on Monday. According to the watchdog, the initiatives include maintaining or adjusting the price levels of a significant number of essential products, as well as significantly expanding the scope of promotional campaigns.

The CPC said that these actions are the result of dialogue with retailers and reflect its understanding of effective regulation in the sector.

During the public discussion of the first interim data from the sector analysis, the CPC emphasized that the report should serve as a basis for dialogue between all stakeholders, encourage self-regulation in the sector, and improve the competitive environment, while protecting the interests of consumers and producers.

The sector analysis also identified serious problems in the producer-retailer chain. The CPC stated that it will continue to analyse the behaviour of traders and, if indications of unfair commercial practices, abuse of a dominant position or problematic concentrations are present, the Commission will initiate the relevant proceedings.

In June 2025, the CPC launched a sectoral analysis of the market for basic foodstuffs with the aim of identifying the reasons for the observed increase in the prices of basic foods, proposing measures to overcome them, and identifying possible violations of competition rules.

In late 2025, the CPC presented the results of its interim sectoral analysis, which showed serious structural distortions throughout the supply chain, with the most serious distortions observed in the supply chain for milk and dairy products.