Supermarket chains need to come clean with their mark-ups

Supermarket chains Foodstuffs and Progressives need to come clean and tell New Zealanders what margins they put on fresh fruit and vegetables, Green Party food spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

A 2011 Green Party survey of more than 100 fruit and vegetable growers found many growers believe supermarket margins are around 100 to 200 percent on fresh fruit and vegetables.

"Progressives and Foodstuffs are quick to deny marking-up fresh fruit and vegetables but are unwilling to provide any proof to back their claims," said Ms Kedgley.

"Many of the growers in the 2011 Green Party survey are struggling to make ends meet and are not getting a fair deal.

"Consumers are also feeling the pinch of high prices for fresh fruit and vegetables in supermarkets.

"These same consumers need assurances that fair margins have been set and that growers as well as consumers are being fairly treated," said Ms Kedgley.

"As I understand, it supermarkets have low margins for processed food and alcohol."

Ms Kedgley said a supermarket code of conduct would bring some degree of transparency around how retail prices are set and this would be good for growers as well as consumers.

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