Greek supermarkets launch price-cut plan of 5%-20% on staples; binding offers open Monday

Greece's National Initiative for supermarket price reductions is set to move from planning to execution, as companies are called to lodge binding offers starting Monday 27 July 2026. The programme, which targets real cuts of 5% to 20% on the regular shelf price of essential goods, will run from 31 August to 31 December 2026. It was shaped in meetings chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in late June and developed further by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos together with industry, suppliers and retail representatives.

How the timeline works

The Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection (AAEA&PK) has laid out a tight schedule. Businesses must submit their proposals per barcode on 27 July. Those proposals will be evaluated on 28 July, and on 29 July supermarket chains will be notified which product codes qualify. The process concludes on 3 August with the filing of final binding offers. The reference price for the cuts is the standard shelf price that will be in effect on 27 August.

What the cuts actually mean

A core condition of the programme is that reductions apply to the regular shelf price, not to temporary promotions or discounts. Any future offers placed on a product must be calculated against the new, already-lowered price. Participating goods are required to stay in the programme for at least two months. For each barcode, companies will declare the existing price, the new reduced price, the percentage drop and how long the reduction will last.

The basket of goods

The AAEA&PK has identified 13 priority categories for the initiative: fresh meat, dairy products, eggs, pasta, legumes, flour, edible oils, baby formula and nappies, breakfast items, soft drinks, detergents, personal hygiene products and school supplies. The Authority stresses that the products chosen must be of high commercial importance and not limited-circulation codes.

How shoppers will know

Consumers will be able to see which products are part of the programme through a dedicated section on the PosoKanei price-comparison platform. In stores, a uniform shelf label will mark the participating items. The government's stated goal is to deliver lasting relief at the checkout through direct price compression rather than time-limited promotions.

“Products that enter the initiative must remain in it for at least two months.”