Food prices have started to rise again, after a relatively calm last year. This is shown by figures from both the Food Price Monitor and the SCB, which on Thursday announced that prices increased by 3.9 percent in February.
This has led the government to call in representatives from the food industry for a new crisis meeting – similar to the one held in March 2023.
Last time I did it was two years ago, then food prices were dampened after that, says Elisabeth Svantesson.
I want to talk to the food giants, but also with food companies in a broader perspective and hear what it is that makes food prices rise now.
Better Competition
The meeting will be held at 2 pm on Thursday next week.
Among the participants are, in addition to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (The Moderate Party) and Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (Christian Democrats), representatives from LRF, Svensk Dagligvaruhandel, Livsmedelsföretagen, ICA, Lidl, Coop, and Axfood.
The hope is that the crisis meeting will have a dampening effect this time as well.
Now the situation is somewhat different and that's why we want to have this conversation, says Elisabeth Svantesson.
But fundamentally, we need better competition in Sweden between these companies, there is much more to be done. We will have a discussion and I look forward to it.
Against Boycott
After SCB's figures on Thursday, harsh criticism came from, among others, the Social Democrats and the Left Party.
Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar also announced that she will join the announced boycott of food giants next week.
Elisabeth Svantesson, who on Friday participated in The Moderate Party's Sweden Days in Karlstad, thinks, however, that a boycott is the wrong way to go.
I think it's a pretty bad idea, we have many skilled and good store owners and chains. But of course, it's good to meet them and talk about what this is due to, she says.
