Branded supermarket goods rise in price as budget products fall

Prices for branded supermarket products rose by an average of 2% over the past year, while budget products, including own-label goods, fell by 6%, according to a price survey by the Dutch Consumers’ Association. The figures point to a widening gap between the two categories, although prices varied considerably between individual products.

Compared with three years ago, branded products were 16% more expensive, while budget products were 2% cheaper, the association said. It reported that price rises for branded goods are slowing overall, but not across the board.

A bag of Unox Chinese tomato soup rose by 36% over the year and a Verkade extra-dark chocolate bar by 28%. Products from Milka, Tony’s Chocolonely and Wasa also became substantially more expensive, according to the association.

Some branded items became cheaper, including drinks from Coca-Cola and Raak. Of the 100 branded products surveyed, about two-thirds increased in price and 22 fell.