Supermarket representatives are set to come under pressure over high food prices when they meet with the Minister for State, Neale Richmond, for what has been described as "a very open and frank conversation".
Grocery price inflation reached a record 16.3% between November and January, according to research analysts Kantar. The Minister said the Government had the power to introduce price caps on products, but did not want to have to do that.
He said inflation had decreased in Ireland in the last year, but prices had not followed. Minister Richmond will be pressing retailers to inform consumers when prices will start coming down. "We expect the retailers and food producers across the country to lay out exactly what the real figures are. We are seriously concerned about the rising cost of groceries across the country.
"It's affecting every household and it's not acceptable. We want to see - now that input costs are going down - when and how we will see grocery prices going down.
