The Greek government has launched a new round of discussions with the food industry and supermarket chains aimed at securing further price reductions on essential consumer goods from September, as it seeks to ease the cost-of-living pressures facing households.
The initiative marks the next phase of the government’s efforts to tackle inflation, even as overall price growth has moderated from the highs recorded in recent years.
New Round of Talks Begins
The process moves forward with a working meeting at the Ministry of Development, chaired by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos.
Representatives from the food industry, major supermarket chains and the country’s Independent Market Supervision and Consumer Protection Authority are expected to begin shaping the new plan, including which product categories will be covered and the scale of the price reductions that could take effect in early autumn.
The meeting coincides with the release of Greece’s latest inflation figures and comes one day before a parliamentary debate on the cost of living.
Building on an Earlier Agreement
The latest discussions follow a government meeting held on June 29 under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where it was agreed to abolish the cap on businesses’ gross profit margins.
At the same time, food manufacturers and retailers committed to maintaining the price reductions already introduced on around 2,000 products throughout the summer.
Under the new proposal, the government is seeking a voluntary agreement with businesses that would extend those efforts by introducing additional price cuts on selected essential goods from September.
Focus on Everyday Household Products
Officials say the priority is to target products purchased regularly by most households rather than niche items with limited demand.
The government wants the new initiative to focus on widely consumed food products and other everyday essentials so that consumers experience a noticeable reduction in their shopping bills.
As a result, the final list may include fewer products than the current scheme but will be more targeted, prioritizing items that make up a significant share of household spending.
The Independent Market Supervision and Consumer Protection Authority will play a key role in selecting the products. Working with market research firms Circana and NielsenIQ, it will analyze consumer purchasing data to identify the products with the highest demand.
Final decisions are expected once consultations with all participating stakeholders have been completed.
