Price differences on e-kalathi reach 207%, Cyprus Consumers Association finds

The Cyprus Consumers Association found no fierce competition among the supermarkets participating in the e-kalathi price comparison platform. According to a study conducted on 12 September, 329 products listed on the platform, or 69.1%, are sold with a difference of more than 30% between the highest and lowest prices.

e-kalathi is a price comparison service where supermarkets publish the prices of everyday products so that shoppers can see where they are cheaper. The association checked all the products and all the chains represented on the platform.

The widest price differences were recorded for 55 products — 11.6% of the list: the difference between the highest and lowest prices ranges from 100% to 207%. For another 135 products, or 28.4%, the difference ranges from 50% to 99%, while for 129 products (27.1%) it ranges from 30% to 49%.

In addition, 81 products, or 17% of the list, are sold at prices that exceed the average across all supermarkets by 50–130%. The association notes that the difference between the highest and lowest prices is smaller for Cypriot products.

The study also identified a problem with product availability: six products on the list are available in only one to five stores, four in 11–20 stores, and another five in 36–40 stores. In addition, the association found errors in the prices entered on the platform.

“The products currently listed on e-kalathi need to be reviewed,” the association said in a statement. It emphasised that a product sold in only one store of a single chain cannot be considered a widely consumed product.