Call for Inquiry into Supermarket Duopoly

New Zealand First is calling for an inquiry into the true state of supermarket competition in New Zealand as the high price of milk hurts families and households.

“A lack of competition between the two supermarkets chains in New Zealand is to blame for high milk prices,” says New Zealand First Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs Darroch Ball.

“Retail milk prices in New Zealand for a two-litre bottle are 26 per cent more expensive than Britain (Sainsbury), 19 per cent more expensive than Australia (Coles) and 18 per cent more expensive than the USA (Walmart).

“Farmers only get 38 cents a litre compared with the high margins charged by supermarkets.

“While Labour’s David Shearer has pointed his finger at the Minister for Primary Industries, New Zealand First wants to know what is Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Paul Goldsmith doing, or rather, not doing.

“New Zealand First wants a select committee inquiry to make sure New Zealanders are being treated fairly. We also need to ask what happened to the last Milk Price Inquiry, which was held before the 2011 General Election,” says Mr Ball.

ENDS

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