Labour MP grills supermarket bosses price gouging Brits in Select Committee

[@PoliticsJOE]

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[@rodneyfrancois7357]

FORSTLY THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF " EVIL" SO THEASE BIG BUSINESSES MOST SUPERMARKETS CAPTALIZES ON ODINARY CITIZENS AND THEASE BOLD FACE TESCO BOSSES HAVE NO EMPATHY SO I DONT EXPECT THEY WILL BRING DOWN PRICES THEY WILL CONTINUE TO " LIE" SO I DONT EXPECT ANYTHING TO CHANGE FROM THEASE UNSHAMEFUL BOSSSES . REMEBER IF YOU HAVE ANY DECENCY INTEGRITY EMPATHY . AND YOU SAY YOU A PROUD OF BRINGING PRICES KNOWING FULL WELL THE EFFECT ON ALREADY CASH STRUCK CUSTOMERS ARE SUFFERING SO MAKING AN PROFIT OF OVER 2BILLION AND YOU A PROUD HOW INTERESTING.

[@Deezenuts19990]

politics joe pushing labour propaganda

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

Did he take into account inflation and 2019 prices vs 2023 prices? {:o:O:}

[@segue2ant395]

After Tesco man told the same obvious lie the third time, I don't understand why he wasn't thrown out of the Committee and had Tescos' penalised for false reporting. I'm absolutely sick of parliament's high tolerance for outright lies.

[@5556665012008]

It's not a lie, there are different types of accounts, his are adjusted accounts. Some accounts have predictions and are then updated or adjusted for different changes

[@earttu]

Proud to have given a 15% pay rise, yes good news if true, but still up on profit since Covid began. Add to this it's just YE profit not the cummulative amount that major shareholders soak up and shift abroad. Ridiculous.

[@vyran7044]

not realy defending him but from what i can tell PART of the problem is that the MP seems to read of unajusted numbers. do 3 years of mega inflation make up the entire difference? i dont know. will it make the gap MUCH smaller? yeaaahhh...

[@christopheradderley6902]

It’s not a lie - he is talking about the ‘net margin’ which accounts for inflation in adjusted figures. It is a direct response to the underlying assumption (incorrect) in the question asked. Unfortunately, the chair is evidently unquestionably not qualified to read adjusted financial statements and has no idea what he is reading. That’s clear as day!

[@luapseirffej]

@@christopheradderley6902 If profit, as a number, a measurement, was 1.6, and then 2.3, how have profits not gone up? adjusted or not? One is a bigger number, therefore profits are up - is that not factually accurate?

[@b62boom1]

Profiteering during a time of hardship for the country should be illegal.

[@diggerman00007]

Did you know that as bad as nixon was to help stop inflation in 1970 ish, he broadcast that any ceo that was found to be price gouging would go to prison.... guess what happened

[@livvi67]

Profiteering should be illegal

[@Ludd439]

Profiteering is how the hardship started... And the hardship will increase profits... That's the way capitalism works.

[@5556665012008]

@@livvi67 So if you make profit on your wage by making savings, I'm sure you will be the first to give it all away

[@5556665012008]

@@Ludd439 capitalism has done more to reduce suffering than anything else in the world.

[@FUT-Franklin]

So what the Tesco boss is saying is, the other chains/sister companies are losing revenue in the other countries so they're rinsing the UK consumer to make up for it

[@redsocialist5474]

Exactly the same argument the Post Office used. Fleece the retail customer to top up shortfall elsewhere.

[@ursman3ify]

Absolutely right.

[@bearnecessities9568]

Yes. It's quite common with any large group with multiple chains across the world. UK's Currys PC world do it. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Johnson & Johnsons also are some of the biggest names that will charge more in some areas to make up deficits in other areas.

[@seanmurphy1614]

Tesco losing revenue in other countries? Ahh...so that's why they announced a 10% cut in the price of 700 items in their Irish outlets a week or so ago. Makes total sense now...NOT.

[@hannahdyson7129]

​@@redsocialist5474Feck the people who work for them right?

[@scoates9910]

Darren Jones is what all politicians should aspire to be.

[@andrewcurtis4568]

By this you mean a useless mouthpiece who represents no change whatsoever? The Tories are absolute scum but Nu Labour are no better. They have kinder words but their non-actions are a joke.

[@petercotton89]

Hats off to Darren Jones. The supermarkets are clearly taking advantage. If they are not willing to play ball they must be forced too. Same with landlords, insurance companies and oil companies.

[@donincognito189]

Every time I despair about the corrupt, lazy politicians who are wrecking this country, I watch a video of Darren Jones in action and my faith is (partially) restored

[@davidscott1052]

Me too

[@trevfindley]

Agreed. He is heroic, although it's a shame that these committees don't seem to have the power to do much other than expose the lies...

[@r8chlletters]

If only he would become PM

[@tryandremovemeyoutube5155]

Its all staged don't fall for this crap.

[@trevfindley]

@@mikel8850 That's an interesting take. I was certainly assuming that this sort of thing, although somewhat ineffectual, was about as good as we could hope for within the current parliament. Who would you say is doing more, and how are they doing it? I'd certainly like to learn more about (and support) other efforts to increase corporate accountability...

[@whowherewhatwhywen]

We are really, really aware of how hard it is for our customers to survive right now, which is why we decided to raise our prices.

[@jamesmurtha2923]

Darren Jones is an unsung hero of the Labour party. He's does such a great job on this committee.

[@tfinde]

I've never seen anything happen as a result of these committees they are a farcical kangaroo court

[@jamesmurtha2923]

@@tfinde you've totally missed the point of what these committees are for then. It is to force the truth from companies that often spread lies, misinformation and spin of their accounts, management and practice. If they are found to have lied or misled during these sittings then action can be taken against them. The only part of the process that doesn't work is the lack of main stream medias reporting on whats discovered during them as their paymasters don't want this to be common knowledge and sway public opinion.

[@utensil999]

Well have u ever watched PMQs that's a fucking circus act. At least here a proper conversation can happen rather than the pantomime circus act that goes on in the house of commons

[@nigelbase1196]

So for all his great work have we seen any convictions 🤔

[@kitharrison8799]

Future PM, get on it

[@bluenessless]

As a retail worker and I work for one of them here, they are just getting greedier. They are making more in profits and they are cutting down more and more staff and expecting us to work even harder for a measley rate. Managers don't do nearly as much work and are very poor at managing, as the staff tend to manage themselves. Yet they get paid more and they probably get bonuses.

[@emcg.9655]

I really feel for you mate, I was in the same boat for 5 years, not long left. Everything you say is spot on, these stores are top heavy and actually seem to mimic the unfairness and ineptitude of government in that the people at the top do fuck all and take all the money, while the people at the bottom do almost everything for nothing. Its nauseating and I can see the anger on the staffs faces in almost every supermarket I enter. I simply couldn't take any more of it, was at the verge of assaulting someone/being assaulted on a few occasions. Was own management that tipped me though.

[@dank420bluntz]

I had to quit, it got to the point where I was the only person on produce on a Sunday, we used to have 4 people. Ended up doing my back in because I was rushing, lifting heavy trays between multiple reduction sessions. Department looked like complete shit. Managers only help when it gets embarrassingly bad. Everyone in supermarket retail is so much worse off mentally, physically, monetarily than they were 10 years ago. Every canteen in the country is now empty. This has all happened under 13 years of penny pinching Tory rule.

[@bluenessless]

@@dank420bluntz feel exactly the same. I used to be on produce too and it got gradually worse to the point you mentioned. I was constantly expected to do produce as well as code check and they question why the department looked a mess... Honestly. Management have it so much better off nowadays where they don't really need to do any hard work. I've yet to see a manager put on a sweat in the past few years. It's disgusting.

[@hubadabubbada]

Was in retail from 17-21 years old. I know how awful it can be, I truly wish you all the best and hope you find a place that respects and treats you well. ❤

[@MDM1992]

The last factory i worked in was the same, cut our shifts so they didn't have to pay us shift allowance forcing the entire shift to work hours they didn't agree with, then decided to literally cut our staff by half and dristribute them elsewhere and make the rest of us work twice as hard during hours we didn't sign up for or agree too, and on top of that they sped up the lines and put more work load on and do you think we got any more pay for that "privilege" of course fucking not. And when we told the management this when they complained about deadlines and targets they just looked at us stupid.. like they couldn't understand the audacity of a completely overworked, underpayed, entirely shafted work force for being demotiviated to even bother and we just let the targets not get met and did only the bare minimum in protest. We all worked our asses off and did overtime etc before all of that, after it we all decided fuck it if they sack me they sack me i've had enough.

[@newforestpixie5297]

In 1976 in our village of 3000 people there was 5 grocery / general provisions shops supplied by VG , Mace , Maid Marion, Spar & another without a brand plus independent Butchers , Grocers ,Pet Shop, Hardware & Garage supplied by Total or Texaco - whilst now there’s just one CoOp at the original Spar location whilst the village has more residents . In 1976 Mum didn’t need to use the giants in the local small town of 10,000 which also had a plethora of small privately run or franchised shops like Spar & VG but also had multiple high street supermarkets Fine Fare, International , CoOp ,Tesco ,Safeway & the edge of the nearest city had “hypermarkets “ Consuma , Carrefor & Woolco. I don’t understand why it’s believed there’s more free enterprise & choice for supplies of basic essentials nowadays when so much competition existed 48 years ago in rural / suburban sprawl areas . So much of today’s world seems illusory 😁

[@AA-hg5fk]

If all MPs were HALF as competent as Darren Jones the country would be in a much better state

[@corchron]

Please don't be fooled into thinking it's incompetence because it's intentional. No matter how much people are struggling the rich gain from every crisis. This happens every time and cannot merely be an accident every time. It's a system designed for the desired outcome and things like this are to give the illusion of democracy.

[@dezmundo1251]

I think we’d have to see how Darren Jones performs in a front bench role to assess his competency vs others in similar roles in parliament…my guess is he’d be better but that’s not saying much. As a chair of a select committee you work under very different circumstances and pressures; he doesn’t have anywhere near the same spotlight on his personal life (not saying there’s anything he has to hide, but that spotlight itself must take a huge toll). He’s the one asking questions and holding people to account, which is an extremely important role. But the real test is what you then do when you are on the other side of the fence…

[@BangTC69]

Let’s face it: We’re NOT all in this together. The Rich don’t give a monkeys about the rest of us and a proper Government would beef up the Regulators across the economy. As for ‘Aldi Price Match’: Total Con. The whole supermarket sector is nothing more than Cartel. That shouldn’t be.

[@Yelluz]

The problem is what a "proper government" looks like. It certainly isn't any of the crap we have to pick from at the moment.

[@Wildgrowsthenature]

There are more Aldi price match labels in Tescos than Tescos labels. I call Tescos the Aldi price match store.

[@r8chlletters]

Everyone could, in theory, have access to land, plant starts and localized education programs and resources to grow, harvest put up preserved food. People can be provided this access by laws passed by the government if the will to circumvent grocery stores is there. People don’t need grocery stores. They need local markets and the knowledge to stop using them.

[@allykhan8594]

Try working more.

[@Shredx1]

Lol, joke is if it looks like they won't get their own way they threaten us with 'leaving the country'!! Priceless!! Choiceful(!?!)

[@bluehazeburnout]

I'd clap my hands with glee if I thought for one second that any of this was going to make the slightest bit of difference. They walk out of these meetings, adjust their ties, wipe their brows and just carry on rinsing everyone.

[@Arckivio]

Are you old enough to remember the same thing with the energy companies??? All hoo haa & nonsense, most of them sent their secretaries & at the end of it all, the "government" suggested we all just switch suppliers!!!! Anyone tried to switch to a cheaper supplier recently? They don't exist & you really have to wonder if they DO plan all this decades in advance or if there are constant coincidences of biblical proportions!!!!

[@andrewcurtis4568]

And why does nothing change? Because at EVERY fucking election we re-elect the same useless, corrupt liars who allow this.

[@TheQuietGuyAtTheBack]

Agree. None of these meetings do anything. Pointless and depressing.

[@hieroglyph321]

"Lessons will be learned"

[@DrStrangelove-w9w]

True, it's just to make it appear as though the Tories care and are doing something when in fact they are shareholders in cahoots with this profiteering cartel.

[@JohnLloydDavis]

I have been really impressed with Darren Jones, need more like him and Chris Bryant in Parliament.

[@helenstiff6306]

Chris Bryant is a very shifty man

[@normhanson981]

100% , both great mp’s

[@jamesbrennan7355]

Ive had the unfortunate time of having to live in UK for just over 2 years now and what gets me is not the mess the country is in but the blatant corruption that has continued to happen with nobody facing any consequence whatsover. It baffles me that a country can sink itself so fast without having to answer for itself because the people seem to accept their goverment driving everyones life downward. Cant wait to get the hell outta here.

[@BigJoze]

And go where?

[@patriciahiggins9188]

Tory brexit Britain 👿👿👿

[@scottwallbank4794]

Because boomers continue to vote the Tories in, as it serves their interests.

[@rongablue]

Just look at what’s running the country…speaks volumes.

[@whattf3924]

Well no one comes here for the weather

[@vernonchubb8289]

This MP is brilliant seen him on loads of committees. Analytical brain, to the point questions , can detect answer avoidance in a millisecond. Would make a great leader of the Labour Party. Much better than our current one .

[@SamGowerRunning]

Think he was a solicitor previously

[@Station9.75]

Ah that means he won’t get anywhere close to a look in then.

[@thefirm4606]

So he’s lucky to still be a member of labour

[@chrislambe400]

Starmer has less charisma nad charm than a cardboard cutout of him. Raynor is not sharp enough. Yvette Cooper please

[@iffler2542]

But his facts are wrong. He doesn't understand adjusted accounts, or rather he chooses (for political reasons) to not understand adjusted accounts.

[@sueyourself5413]

It's hilarious, they're describing marketing campaigns and the things that they do normally to attract customers as if it's them being charitable.

[@SlicksterS-h9n]

Imagine being a major national supermarket chain and admitting the best you do is price match Aldi or Lidl on some products.

[@Driziationz]

Look, it's simple demand and supply. If the supply is more than the demand, price will definitely drop. Grow your own food, if they lose money because of lost sales. They will drop prices to entice customers.

[@TheRapierTheBetter]

@@DriziationzI don’t have land to grow food, what do I do

[@Jmcinally94]

​@@TheRapierTheBetterYeah truly privileged take, but I guess if you can do it that's one of getting them. The other way is regulating profiteering capitalists instead of acting like the invisible hand of the free market is always the solution. Pray at the alter of supply and demand and graph will eventually go down 🛐📉

[@TheRapierTheBetter]

@@Jmcinally94 I like this suggestion

[@Elldeeve]

A number of cheaper own brand items in Tesco were price matched to Aldi, they went up.

[@Dess1eOne]

Absolutely scandalous it's a monopoly that needs to be broken up .

[@fbridge]

Darren Jones is so thorough and an absolutely brilliant chair. He manages to politely cut through the waffle to get the information the committee needs.

[@johngamble967]

Darren Jones is the type of person we need at the Top.

[@DrMattiLabbratt]

Darren Jones is the BOMB!!!! Love that guy. So direct, incisive, fact & evidence driven, relentless, & serving the Public! Also everyone watching Boycott the stores that you can plainly see are Price Gouging

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

Absolutely right, but where are normal, busy, working families meant to shop instead?

[@hannahdyson7129]

All that does is lay of workers who then can't afford to feed their families. The boses won't be punshied

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

@@hannahdyson7129 Exactly - rather like replacing staff with self-serve tills!

[@hannahdyson7129]

​@@OldGreyMulletTestThere are no self filling shelves though And he and his party have done nothing to stop staff being sacked for self service tills No reason for them to vote Labour at the next election.

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

@@hannahdyson7129 "There are no self filling shelves" - yet. Have you seen the robots that stack and pick in warehouses..?

[@markjohnston7869]

It is hard not to have the word scumbags come to mind when we see these profiteering mouthpieces spouting their rubbish to justify their greed.

[@phlegmony]

its called free market, get over it

[@stetomlinson3146]

@@phlegmonyDoes that mean it can’t be criticised or reformed? Is it right that Tesco can make 2.25 Billion in profits, but still be increasing their prices. Why not just make 1Billion and not put prices up so much?

[@silver4831]

Why should they? They exist to make money for shareholders.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

@@phlegmony These left-wingers are psycho control freaks. Business looks at them and leaves the country.

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

@@phlegmony That really is taking basic thinking to a new low.

[@xrayfish2020]

Darren Jones needs to be in the next Labour cabinet without a shadow of a doubt.

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

blairite eco loony remainer? no thanks

[@xrayfish2020]

@@GOLDSMITHEXILE To give this country a chance to recover after 14 years of Tory government mis- management will a character like Darren to gets us back to normality?

[@antonypacan5849]

What the point.. Nothing will change because the greed in their bones.....

[@cameronclarkhull]

it's not the cost of living crisis... it's the cost of greed crisis

[@neonwired4978]

it's capitalism crisis

[@Station9.75]

Rob from the poor and give to the rich.

[@Dowager66]

@@Station9.75OH GROW UP !!!

[@Dowager66]

THERE IS NOT COST OF LIVING CRISES ENERGY PRICE IS DOWN !!

[@straightouttacornwall]

@@Dowager66 So why are we paying more then Sherlock?

[@GoldnDusty]

“We have shortfall in other countries and other businesses, so the UK consumer will pay more for their groceries” - Just to translate Tesco’s boss into plain English.

[@Three_Sword_Hokage]

​@Driziationz lots of other businesses have been bailed out, so they might.

[@Passive-Menis]

Actually they would be bailed out due to employment impact. No one is questioning them making a profit, the issue is excessive profiteering due to the circumstances of the pandemic, I guess more of a morality question to these businesses. I personally do not see an issue with companies taking advantage of the situation if this is clear I know to avoid said businesses- as I’m sure most of their customers would. This would however be hard with a poorly regulated market such as the Uk - this obviously simply has a knock on effect for the equality gap.

[@yinyatto9911]

at the expense of people starving, i have nothing against profit but i do have a problem with greed impacting on vunerable peoples lives

[@kraftpunk494]

​@@stephjsinclair*unpaid bonuses for the exectutives

[@GoldnDusty]

@@Driziationz They are a *multinational* business *conglomerate*. That is the issue. It’s the job of government to prevent multinationals from levying their citizens due to failing in other countries. That’s how countries like Russia can destabilise other economies. So, in being weak on Tesco’s evident wish to tax the British public for their failings in Europe - I believe the Czech Republic, specifically - the government are just showing that they’re open to having their economy buggered this way.

[@richardcollis5576]

Who’s sets costs ??? Buisness and corporations do. What causes inflation, those same businesses setting costs. It’s a death spiral by corporate overlords

[@enigmatwist6548]

Market forces push prices down, don’t like the price set go to another supermarket. Problems arise when supermarkets collude to stifle competition and keep prices artificially high. It’s happened before and might be happening now but as yet there’s no evidence to support that assumption.

[@Capybarrrraaaa]

@@enigmatwist6548 Ah, the good ol' 'arbitrary circumstances will make everything right'. It's the economics equivalent of 'stop screaming, it'll all be over soon'.

[@5556665012008]

devaluation of the pound was caused by printing money during the pandemic, prices going up was caused by half a dozen factors.

[@elcristoph7380]

Costs are set by suppliers and consumers. How much if a thing do we have and how much are people prepared to pay for it. As consumption has gone up and supplies are down.. prices go up.. It’s not that complicated.

[@bereal6590]

@richardcollins, you are correct inflation is being driven by the cost of food and energy. The government know it but instead the Voe raises interest rates because the government are doing nothing. Downward spiral indeed

[@MD-gc4xq]

Answer simple “they are ripping us off”

[@indridcold2872]

Tesco was already troublesome in 2010 when a scandal broke out of farmers having to give money to Tesco under the table to be able to sell their goods. Greed greed greed!

[@danielweizman1402]

Can’t we arrest these people for defrauding and stealing money? This MP may be sharp but not aggressive enough.

[@5556665012008]

it's not theft, grow your own food if you have a problem with it

[@monged4life442]

This MP isn't in government, he can't do jack shit to these people except make recommendations to the government, which he's said in the past they completely ignore every time.

[@sammckinstry]

Darren Jones will be back. He and colleagues have just humiliated the board of the Post Office, and if there is a second iteration with Tesco at al, I'd guarantee he'll land some knockout and humiliating blows, especially if they continue to obfuscate.

[@colingregson8653]

You need to arrest Matt Wankcock for robbing the public coffers million's on dodgy PPE .

[@steph6109]

They didn't steal anything. Greedflation happens in a sick capitalist system. Their loyalty and responsibility is to their shareholders. The problem is there's not enough competition

[@tomevans5201]

Pure greed. No BS can hide it.

[@marklangley7758]

In a word, the problem is SHAREHOLDERS. All busines is obliged to pay out dividends to private individuals and other businesses. It's nothing to do with being fair with customers, shareholders come first.

[@Liverpoolboy01]

Not as much in dividends!

[@bowdencable7094]

This is only a 40 year old concept, maybe even younger than you are. It is not at all necessary for companies to elevate shareholders over all other stakeholders, and was not common practice when we had sustainable economies.

[@OldGreyMulletTest]

Exactly!

[@SleepyGarfield73]

Shateholders own the company. It's their money which owns the company. So if all shareholders withdrew their cash tomorrow, the companies would be insolvent and unable to trade - how would you resolve that ?

[@SleepyGarfield73]

​@@bowdencable7094bullshit. It has *always* been the first responsibility of a board to look after the shareholders interests, because the shareholders *own the company* - other stakeholders don't..

[@paulcowan3222]

I met my doctors wife at the local food bank, any body can go to a food bank, you don't have to show your wages etc

[@theexplorechanneluk7934]

I urge everyone to protest against Tesco and not shop in Tesco’s until they start behaving.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

All ignoring the central question of how their profits have risen so sharply....

[@elcristoph7380]

Depends on the time period.. profits rose sharply during covid because everyone was stuck at home shopping as a pose to going to work and eating there.

[@phlegmony]

because its a free market.

[@martinradcliffe4798]

@@phlegmony "Free"? I think you mean rigged...

[@saltney17]

@@phlegmony disgusting

[@simonhore1983]

By the same way wages have risen, inflation, the profit margins sound pretty static, wages in contrast are taking a dip in real terms.

[@steviestevie9762]

The Tesco local stores have in the past 12 months increased their prices exorbatantly. The Tesco man here was deliberately misleading

[@paul8161]

Out of all the people answering, the morrisons chap came over the most genuine and had concern for his customers and actually wanted to be there answering questions and had previously fed back information to the house,, so credit where credit is due,, well done morrisons ...and more to the point he actually sounded sincere like he was trying to help.

[@bensaint2614]

And the only one that doesn't just flat out pay the least they can for employees! Goddamn gem that one it would seem

[@markhoney3044]

Pretty sure this is now an official Morrisons advert!😂

[@rebeccalewis7755]

He did say his staff was on 10.92 a hour though but they are on minimum wage?

[@paul8161]

​@rebeccalewis7755 £10.92 is living wage not minimum wage.( which is what he said he paid) plus a 15% discount .

[@bensaint2614]

@@paul8161 isn't it £10.42 not £10.92? According to gov.uk anyway

[@davidshattock9522]

About time someone put thier knackers in an explanatory mangle.for us to hear and see

[@adamstock1164]

I worked at Sainsbury’s during the pandemic and they gave us a 3.5% pay increase (50p ph) and we were told we should be grateful so that says a lot really

[@rollingdeep5401]

What kind of salary would you have been happy with?

[@mikehall7189]

These organisations go on about being part of the community and helping the community. Garbage. They are squeezing people who have already been squeezed to the extreme. An utter disgrace.

[@whizzpop1983]

I find it disgusting that supermarkets are now inflating prices, but offering the "old" price by using Clubcard/Nectar or Asda Rewards, so those in the club offering their shopping habit data in exchange get it for a lower price whilst those who don't get the higher price. Also for those shopping under 18 who can't have a clubcard they pay the higher price. It's not on

[@sammckinstry]

The Clubcard benefits have recently been reduced too!

[@matthewpoole2700]

Asda rewards doesn't give you cheaper prices it just gives you money back when you've shopped

[@neiltitmus9744]

Yes I went into the coop a few weeks ago and put the shopping back as they wanted to rip me off

[@whizzpop1983]

@@neiltitmus9744 it’s about £7 for Heinz ketchup in there isn’t it?

[@hannahdyson7129]

As a supermarket worker I find it disgusinthr average British oonsmer is ok with physically assaulting us We arent responsible for the price hikes people

[@firebyrd437]

Profiteering plain and simple, one item went from £7.50 to £11 in one week at asda. Every week, items I buy regularly go up. What's worse is the producers of fresh food don't get the profit, just the greedy supermarkets

[@leehenry5764]

Well thanks to the war, prices will go up.

[@tiffinmeister]

Asda have been taken over by a private equity company amongst others so their debt levels will rise and rise to pay for the purchase costs. Remember Debenhams and Thames Water.

[@beerfantv]

Well done Darren Jones, this need to happen more often and with more retailers.

[@christopherwhite4153]

The only reason they have had bigger wage bill is because of the minimum wage has gone up. Not because they understand the staff are struggling that do all work they have had to increase wages. vile CEOs on vile huge wages sick evil people

[@PhilippaBeale]

Brilliant MP, honest and clear. We would like him for PM

[@60toodles]

erm no we wouldn't. Labour voters might. You can only speak for yourself not everyone else lol

[@magicplacebo2143]

Don't want any single one of the muppets in charge that goes for every last one might as well give it to a bum of the street.. Parliament is literally a skid mark on society

[@josefgudgeon6140]

It's so nice that they are all acutely aware. Shame that they don't give a crap.

[@anthonyparker4334]

price matching sounds like something cartels engage in

[@ianmcbride412]

Exactly, effectively a monopoly

[@5556665012008]

it's called competing by lowering prices. Cartels agree on a fixed price

[@alankirkby465]

Interesting comment.

[@sharless1]

..…and nothing happened. These committee's do nothing

[@cra3y_hor3e10]

They don't have to worry about real consequences.

[@xAce99x]

Talk talk talk, why the government allow these people to continually rip off the public, we know there is no real competition between these supermarkets its one giant Cartel

[@joesims6]

Why aren’t they made to be embarrassed that their best defensive is trying to match Lidl & Aldi prices & not being pushed to beat them 🤔

[@TheRapierTheBetter]

@@DriziationzI think the for profit motive in our society needs to be grown past and phased out, it’s causing definitely inequality it this point, and the “capitalist” ideal has turned into a neo-feudalist nightmare

[@squibys2262]

​​@@TheRapierTheBetterf you were a business owner or sole trader would you offer your services at cost price? I highly doubt it, what will induce people into offering their time and in turn adding to the competitiveness of sectors.

[@MarkRobbo96]

Nice advertising for Aldi

[@eljay5746]

The simple reason for increased profits is the consumer is paying more for the products than they should be.

[@phlegmony]

and they keep buying and complaining whilst doing nothing 😂😂 brits pathetic

[@mercedesvan-doors34]

A neighbour and friend of mine produces vegetables for sale to local supermarkets, I recently poked fun at him, that he must be making money now the prices have gone up so much. He claims that his costs rose with the rise in fuel etc but the supermarkets insisted on a 10% reduction in his price to them. I think it's time we found a way to sell the produce grown and made locally at a reasonable prince and cut out the middle men. That might put some real pressure on them to bring profits down.

[@elcristoph7380]

Doesn’t work like that I’m afraid.. local producers are nice for smaller local communities. But when you have to feed hundreds of millions of people you need large scale productions with capital..

[@hannahdyson7129]

All it will do is cause them to lay of staff Who then can't afford to eat

[@RenghisKhan]

Civilisation is like a balloon, put too much pressure on it and it will go pop. The main problem with capitalism is the sheer relentless greed of those who are filthy rich already. More, more and more will never ever be enough.

[@mercedesvan-doors34]

@@elcristoph7380 Sadly I know you're right.

[@elcristoph7380]

@@RenghisKhan if you have money, you can invest.. that doesn’t make you greedy.

[@HighAcuity]

Why is no one talking about John Allan? The Tesco Chairman who in January accused the other supermarkets of price gouging and then two months later was thrown out of his job with false accusations of misconduct? That’s what happens: tell the truth and get thrown out as your shareholders want you to price gouge too.

[@hazyhayley7488]

I’m glad people are stealing from your companies.

[@thetoonpiper]

Finaly an MP who is holding these Supermarket bosses to account, this man is a breath of fresh air. These supermarkets and other corporate entities are making huge profits and are able to give their executive's huge frikin pay rises whilst the rest of us are struggling to pay their over inflated prices on some of the most basic commodities, disgusting, absolute greed. Just like the politicians we have sitting in goverment now these people are out of touch, they don't have to worry about what this months food shop is going to cost them or how much there energy bill is going to be. We are being well and truly shafted by these people.

[@nigelbase1196]

None of them are being held accountable...they're still getting away with it!!

[@BsktImp]

Pity the sessions didn't also investigate the nefarious rise of 'membership' prices: ''Clubcard Price', Nectar Price', 'Asda Pounds', 'Co-Op membership', 'Lidl Plus'. Just what are these companies doing to suppliers and and to which third parties are they selling shoppers' data (linked to in-store/checkout video footage) - in the middle of a chronic cost of living crisis when they're supposedly struggling to break even or make profits - that is suddenly allowing them to have 'loyalty' prices that are an average of 27% and up tp 63% cheaper than their general retail prices?

[@3rodox]

It's always surreal watching Darren Jones. Someone in British politics who seems have genuine integrity. I almost throw up from the shock.

[@thisismetoday]

“We’re doing absolutely everything to keep the prices for our customers as low as possible”… ACCEPT YOUR PROFITS ARE ALL GOING UP!!! Outrage.

[@ukmedical4206]

What about the waste of the unbought food?

[@liveloud9894]

Come on we all knew they would do this, it’s the perfect opportunity to use the “ increases in costs“ excuse to raise prices for no other reason than to rob the eyes and brains out of us all

[@Shood33]

Matching prices with Aldi apparently but yet I spent far less at Aldi for the same stuff I would get at Tesco.. Tesco has always been expensive but the leap of their price increases since covid has been ridiculous and let’s not forget how bad Tesco was to get into during covid.

[@andrewwatts2443]

This is the problem with massive diverse businesses. It doesn't matter if Tesco in the UK is making more profit than it ever has, they are saying because another part of the group is not doing as well smashing the UK public is justified. If your costs increase so you raise your prices to compensate and then decide to add even more on, you are price gouging and being greedy. That is the energy sector, supermarkets, financial sector, telecoms companies etc. They are all doing it. Supermarkets could have kept prices down across the board but instead decided on selected products but also using their reward scheme which only help select customers not the general public.

[@boogiewoogie9770]

A perfect example is one product: Bananas. Try pay suppliers per kilo. The supermarkets now charge customers per banana irrespective of size/weight. Therefore small bananas that have cost say half a penny each from the supplier will be charged to the customer at 27p each (current price in my local Tesco's).

[@johndyda5673]

Darren Jones is brilliant. These bastards just can't get enough money can they?

[@mikeyoung7660]

Pure greed

[@reggieduquesnoy]

We need more MPs of that calibre...

[@AdamReade]

They made over a billion in profits and then 2 months later laid off 15 000 staff.

[@elcristoph7380]

Because they didn’t need them..

[@phlegmony]

so? if you don't like it then just don't shop there. no big deal its a free market

[@AdamReade]

@@phlegmony I don't shop there. But your empathy for all those peoples lost jobs and income is phenomenal. Well done you.

[@silver4831]

Can't cry about everything.

[@elcristoph7380]

@@AdamReade shops hired heavily during covid to need the wfh demand..now that demand has gone they no longer need all those people.. Pointing out the reality of the situation doesn’t mean you lack empathy.. it means you’re not an idiot. But by all means.. keep crying it it makes you feel better.

[@cameroncameron2826]

They all did it as a secret / special; club and its algorithm enabled them to collaborate in price gouging without the risk of being uncompetitive.

[@chrissyboy123456789]

They use the situation as an advertisng opportunity. They are all in cahoots. Tesco have a fleet of private jets and i also hear that they have a posh yaucht in a mediteranean harbour used for senior management benefit and breaks.

[@oldmanskater9556]

why are they all in denial... stop this greed

[@luckyxluke]

They're either lying to their shareholders or they're lying to the public.

[@skyblazeeterno]

they are using weasel words - the Tesco guy basically never directly answered the questions

[@randyschwaggins]

They only care about shareholders

[@lw1zfog]

try both

[@Astar-AoK]

This guy to be the labour leader

[@phillydavison]

A vote for Starmer whether you like him or not is still a vote to get this MP who you do like into power.

[@boahnation9932]

Why cant they take less profits during a cost of living crises? For goodness sake. Sick. Absolutely disgustingly sick.

[@ShakesSphere]

Unfortunately..they're doing this in the states, too. Stocking less to reduce waste, and doubling, tripling prices to make even more, adding self-serve registers to cut payrolls and jobs to boot. Grow our own, guys!!!!

[@annishilcock4587]

Darren Jones is a phenomena!

[@Music_Light_Show]

Supermarkets made billions during the pandemic, being allowed to stay open all through it, it's just greed.

[@skyblazeeterno]

and supermarkets in general are one of the worst employers

[@sunshine-mr8og]

Yes..because they are owned by the Super Rich who ALSO pay tiny amounts of tax !!😢😢😢😢😢

[@Dowager66]

And IF IT WASNT FOR THEM U WOULD HAVE STARVED !! Grow up

[@deanthompson3757]

Didn't see any supermarket employees getting paid to stay at home during the pandemic they was all to busy picking or filling up shelves caused by the panic buyers it would of been nice to have a year off and be paid to stay at home instead of having to go to work keeping the food flowing

[@davos9450]

This has always been the case in this country, Just Pass it on to the Consumer they will pay it.

[@DippyB189]

Remember the saying ‘ rip off Britain’, nothing has changed.

[@eddiefriel1847]

Darren Jones is brilliant at holding these fst cats to account. I wish more people could be more like him.

[@pippoplfc]

Instead of trying to get close to Aldi and Lidl's prices, why don't they try to beat their prices?

[@envy99976]

That would make too much sense!

[@magicplacebo2143]

But then They won't make maximum profit not the way the world works these leeches would chop the last tree to add an extra dollar to their profits

[@mharris7380]

Immediately, Tesco dodge the question. He didn't ask if they were being competitive, he asked if you were doing enough for the customer.

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

Doing enough what? Ask a proper question if you want a proper answer.

[@skyblazeeterno]

@@Andrew-rc3vh doing enough in keeping prices down - I will give you a clue Tescos are not doing enough

[@Andrew-rc3vh]

@@skyblazeeterno Here's another clue: input prices have risen Sugar 49.8% Olive Oil 46.8% yeast, baking powder, stock 42.3% Sauces 35.1% cheese 33.4% kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrRdYyNa5WDbbs Tesco's profit ~4%

[@mharris7380]

@@Andrew-rc3vh what are you talki9ng about ask a proper question? I didn't ask one.

[@classawarrior]

​​​@@skyblazeeterno Why is a company obligated to make less profit in order to help people? In fact what they're legally obligated to do is to be competitive, and try to make money for their shareholders. If the government expects them to provide some kind of public service by selling food more cheaply than they can get away with, they need to impose rules/regulations which force them to do so. Until they do so, the companies really have nothing to answer for. Asking a for-profit company why it's not essentially acting like a charity and voluntarily giving up profit is kind of a pointless line of questioning

[@lincslegend6936]

I like to see these villains being called out and questioned. How will labour tackle these extremely successful companies taking the piss out of the consumer?

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Both ConLab have embraced open borders Globalisation and have no solutions.

[@alikhan-uh3sq]

It will be hard to make these corporate giants understand consumer needs. All they see is profit. Take the 6-pack Lucazade, now you get 4 bottles instead of 6 for the same price as 6. Hobnob biscuits have less chocolate, and a tub of vitalite butter has gone up from 1 pound to 2.50. I

[@50_Pence]

They won't. The red tories will do nothing different

[@Crashawsome]

@@alikhan-uh3sq That's the problem right there. You're buying fake food that's manufactured by international conglomerates

[@hannahdyson7129]

What about the people who work for them ? No one seems to give a dam about them

[@jordansamuels2052]

I used to work with Gordon Gafa and Kris comer cord at Tesco about 10 years ago. This is mad!

[@Jim-sh7zb]

Why are these companies being allowed to get away with robbing people.

[@haydenharris3059]

Tesco is 3rd world and devious prices. Club card is a blatant lie.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Didn't they hang people for this during the 2nd World War? Absolutely sickening and disgraceful Like deployed 👍

[@ATHLDN]

£10.92 p/h... lamentable..is this a wage in a country where rent,bills are exorbitant?

[@evolassunglasses4673]

But capitalism now can just import in an OVER SUPPLY of labour from around the World. Which is a race to the bottom. Oligarchs love immigration. Most of the Left has embraced open borders Globalisation and have no solutions.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Should be at least £16 per hour. For f'k sakes, we are supposed to be rich, somewhere....

[@comanchio1976]

@huwzebediahthomas9193 We have more millionaires and billionaires than ever. The gap between the rich and poor is wider than ever. Disaster capitalists are making a killing, you could argue, literally. Vast wealth is within and flowing through this country. Proof, if any more was needed, that trickle-down economics was always just a self-serving lie.

[@bernieburrows3731]

At least he came off as the best of a bad lot.

[@hannahdyson7129]

No one is going to pay supermarket staff a high wage . Consumers would start to complain as food prices rise

[@zarajenkins6948]

I just want to add....how can mr kiplings 6 apples pies be £2.50......£2.friggin 50! 🤬

[@mgm1514]

Just couldn’t carry on listening to this fairytale story of the extreme privileged supermarket bosses once the Tesco representative started his pre.written nonsense. SHAMEFUL & DESPICABLE. Buy from local retailers whenever possible

[@marcuskirsch4128]

Its amazing how little many organisations care about the very country and society they live in.

[@amantedellopera1681]

This chairman is brilliant,he is like a dog with a bone,and of course he is correct the big retailers are ripping us off,its the same in ireland,only our uselss lot let them away with it,they give them a good telling off,and what do the retailers do...yes your right nothing 😂

[@stevegray1308]

Ordering Tesco online you can guarantee that at least half of the "Aldi Price Match" items are out of stock. What a coincidence.

[@Scrumpys]

It is perfectly clear the Supermarkets objective was to remove the high street competition (achieved), capture all markets in supply and customer (achieved) and make as much profits as possible (achieved). Amazon followed the same strategy and have also fully succeeded. The supermarkets employ poor vulnerable old people to keep pay low but zero hour contracts thriving. Exploitation and monopoly is not hidden. The worse hidden factor is the food quality is tasteless, generally has a used by date of 2-3 days and is now beyond low income affordable.

[@scott3232]

The Tesco guy making out they gave all colleague's a 15% wage increases is an out and out lie. Any time Tesco give an increase on wages they absorb it by taken away something else, for example when I worked within Tesco our wages went up to just over the living standards wage however to get that they took away our yearly bonus among other smaller benefits. Whilst we were all struggling through the pandemic, working even harder than ever Tesco were trying to take away our double pay for a Sunday shift too. I worked for Tesco for 8 years and every single time they increased or had to increase wages its always resulted in them clawing it back through like mentioned above removing your bonus scheme etc. They are bleeding us dry at our hardest times these supermarkets its absolutely disgusting how obvious it is and how they are getting away with it.

[@yippeeki-yay1691]

Morrisons are no better - packed full of ex Tesco cronies who just copy what their old company does about 6 months later..

[@benshaw5910]

How many politicians do you know who automatically put a smile on your face when you see them

[@easytoassemble54321]

The Governor of the Bank of England very clearly said that companies will need to play their role in curbing inflation, by NOT constantly profit-chasing and/or passing on higher costs to everyone else. It's one thing to fight for survival as a company. Quite another to have your growing profit margins indicate you are not having to fight at all.

[@robbailie5878]

Tescos Boss "We didnt make more money last year". Darren Jones "Im not an expert but looking at your figures from 2018 and last year you did make profit". Tesco Boss "Ah thats our OTHER businesses making all that money".

[@sonic-factory]

It's not just the supermarkets. It's the bigger brands, like Heinz and others, who are exploiting customers.

[@m8jorerror220]

!st, As a Aldi worker for many years, Tesco (so called) price match are on items we don't ever stock and never have done, so how can they price match it. It's the same with Sainsbury's. Also how are these now called the big 4, when Aldi now has more footfall in customers then 3 of the so called big 4 have, they currently sit 2nd in the title race for the best supermarket behind Tesco, Who is only 1st cos of the amount of shops they keep opening including "one Stop" shops which are also a Tesco store. They are just ripping customers off on a daily bases with putting prices up on a weekly bases.