From August 31, 2026, the national initiative to reduce prices on basic food products and everyday items sold at supermarkets will be implemented, with a target of reductions of at least 5% and an implementation period of two to four months, Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos announced on Thursday.

The announcement follows a meeting with representatives of industry, suppliers, multinationals, supermarket chains, the administrator of the Independent Authority for Market Surveillance and Consumer Protection and the Secretary General of Commerce..

The purpose of the meeting was to finalize the categories of products that will be included in the initiative, as well as the percentage of price reduction that will be implemented as of the end of August.

According to media information, the initiative will cover basic food and essential items sold at supermarkets, such as:

1. fresh meat (beef, pork and poultry)
2. milk
3. yogurt,
4. cheese and eggs,
5. bread and flour,
6. pasta, rice and legumes,
7. olive oil, seed oils,
8. butter and margarines,
9. baby milk,
10. baby food and diapers,
11. coffee,
12. cereals,
13. chocolate, biscuits and chocolates,
14. soft drinks,
15. cleaning agents (laundry and dish detergents, general purpose),
16. personal hygiene products,
17. as well as school supplies.

As the majority of Greeks have been permanently complaining about the ongoing high prices in food and other essentials, while salaries and pensions remain stagnant and the government is heading to parliamentary elections, there was no way out but to pressure for price decreases.

Considering that these decreases are expected for 2 to 4 months, some mean Greek would beat that the elections could be well held at the end of September as some government officials had “mistakenly” leaked.

PS As the gov’t helps the industry to pocket huge profits in the last couple of years, the same is now expected by them.