Sainsbury’s has announced a price cut on its own-brand toilet paper, aiming to alleviate the financial strain faced by consumers amidst the escalating cost of living. The retailer stated that the prices of its loo rolls would decrease by up to 11% as it passes on the savings resulting from the decline in pulp costs.
While grocery price inflation remains high, supermarkets have faced criticism for not fully passing on the benefits of falling wholesale costs to customers. However, supermarkets vehemently deny allegations of profiteering and have recently reduced prices on essential items. Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl have all implemented price cuts on bread, milk, and butter in recent months.
Research conducted for the BBC revealed that toilet paper prices in the UK are higher compared to some of the country’s major European counterparts. A snapshot analysis indicated that UK shoppers typically paid £3.80 for a pack of toilet rolls, whereas a comparable pack cost £2.66 in Italy and £2.87 in Germany.
Globally, the price of pulp, a key raw material for paper and tissue production, has been decreasing due to weakened demand. Rhian Bartlett, the food commercial director at Sainsbury’s, explained, “After more than two years of inflation on the price of pulp, we are now seeing a decline which is enabling us to pass savings directly on to our customers and reduce the price of our own-brand toilet roll.”
Although falling food and energy prices have been observed recently following the decline in the war-related disruptions in Ukraine, food prices in the UK continue to rise rapidly. In April, staples such as sugar and pasta experienced significant price increases, contributing to the highest rate of inflation in nearly 45 years.
In response to concerns about high food and fuel prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has initiated an investigation to determine if a lack of competition is causing customers to overpay. The CMA has already identified instances where supermarkets have increased profit margins on petrol and diesel.
Supermarkets maintain that they are actively striving to keep prices as low as possible. They explain that there is often a time lag before falling wholesale prices are reflected in retail stores due to long-term contracts signed between retailers and food producers.