Consumer watchdog probes Dutch supermarket prices
The Dutch consumers authority ACM said on Thursday it has launched an investigation into the price of groceries in Dutch supermarkets.
The agency said it had been prompted to start the probe because of “signs that the price of some goods is higher” than in the Netherlands’ surrounding countries. The aim, the ACM said, is to find out if there are market issues in the Dutch supermarket sector which lead to higher prices.
The study will focus on the profit margins made by suppliers, including for premium brands, and the profit margins booked by supermarkets, the ACM said. It will also compare prices of groceries in the Netherlands with Germany and Belgium.
“Markets which function properly are important for both consumers and companies,” the ACM said. “If suppliers hinder supermarkets in selling more cheaply, or if there is not enough competition between supermarkets, prices will go up.”
Dutch media have highlighted a number of instances in which products bought abroad are much cheaper than in the Netherlands, including coffee, beer and toiletries.
The results will be published in summer 2026.
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