Aldi price hikes copied by other supermarkets

Aldi, a world-leading hard discounter, has announced plans to raise prices on more than 50 products in Germany. The company stated that they have had to initiate the price hike due to the rising prices of raw materials.

Other supermarkets have already followed or planning to do so. REWE and discount supermarket chain Plus (part of the Tengelmann Group), are planning to increase prices as well. The price of bread, for example, is directly related to the soaring prices of wheat, flour, dairy products and edible oil. Supermarket Plus is raising prices for ‘the first time in years,’ according to a company spokesperson. How much the two companies will raise their prices is not said. Edeka, Germany's biggest food retailer, hasn't decided whether or not to follow suit with the price hikes. The company is currently in negotiations with other retailers and suppliers.

Supermarkets in the Netherlands also announced raising prices up to 2 per cent. The affects primarily dairy products, bread, cheese and chocolate. Spokespersons for the Dutch supermarkets say soaring commodity prices, as in the German market, are forcing them to hike the cost of certain products after years of price wars.