Carrefour freezes prices on 20,000 products until end of year

Carrefour has announced that it will freeze the prices of thousands of its products until 31 December, after the Christmas season.

Prizes will be frozen for more than 20,000 items in its hypermarkets and more than 10,000 in its Market and Express stores as a way to avoid potential criticism regarding price increases at this time.

At the time of the first lockdown, between April and June, food prices increased significantly: 3.2% on average and up to 11.6% for fruit. The retail sector was heavily criticised at the time. Supermarkets were accused of taking advantage of certain shortages to increase prices, and for passing on the increased costs of additional safety measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic to customers.

Carrefour says it will not pass on any possible additional costs generated by the measures taken to protect its customers and employees from coronavirus.

The price freeze does not apply to fresh products such as fish or seasonal fruits and vegetables, nor to the products of local producers.