"More people want reduced food prices"

Shoppers looking for bargains may benefit as stores now have to separate old food from its packaging. A spike in sales just before food's expiration date is expected, according to three retailers Norran spoke to.

Emma Lindgren, at ICA Byske, says that there is more work involved when the packages need to be emptied.

Emma Lindgren, at ICA Byske, says that there is more work involved when the packages need to be emptied.

Foto: Privat

Skellefteå kommun2024-01-11 14:48

A new rule came into effect at the turn of the year, and store manager Kristoffer Jakobsson at Willys Anderstorp says they are prepared. The rule legislates that so-called 'short-date' food, food that is close to its sell-by date, must be removed from its packaging. 

Separating the food from its packaging will be extra work and therefore the store must do everything to ensure that food is not discarded, and is instead sold.

When the Willys store sells at a discount, they choose a 30, 40 or 50 percent discount, depending on the item, how many packages there are, and how long there is before the expiry date.

At Coop Burträsk, more food will be sold cheaply rather than thrown away.

– For example, we can sell the goods through the app 'Too Good To Go'. Then we pack bags with products that have a short sell-by date or damaged packaging. The price is a third of the original price. The customer books the bag in the app and picks it up and pays in the store, says store manager Carina Berglund.

– The system works well and most of the items are sold. Now, with this new rule, there will probably be more goods sold this way.

At ICA Byske, Emma Lindgren says the changeover is going well so far.

– The change is quite big. It requires more space for handling and takes more time, she says.

– We already have an eat-soon refrigerator and pick-up bread and fruit boxes. Selling discounted goods works well now that food prices have gone up. More people want reduced prices, says Lindgren.