The search for the cheapest extra virgin olive oil has become a mission for consumers, who carefully analyze the prices in each supermarket to select the one that offers the greatest savings capacity in this basic product of the Mediterranean diet.

The consumer association Facua has just presented a study that sheds light on the market situation and can help consumers in achieving this mission.

One of the main conclusions of the study, which analyzes the prices of up to 50 brands in eight food distribution chains throughout the country, is that the price difference in the liter of extra virgin olive oil reaches up to 68.1% depending on the brand and the super.

Specifically, the most expensive at the moment is the liter of extra virgin brand Maestros de Hojiblanca, on sale at Carrefour at 13.10 euros. For its part, the cheapest is from the firm Mar de Olivos, at 7.79 euros in Alcampo.

The study shows that the average price of a liter of extra virgin olive oil in 1-liter plastic containers currently stands at 9.67 euros. And that the same brand of this product costs up to 45% more depending on the supermarket chain where it is purchased, a difference that in euros represents no less than 4 per liter. This is the Carbonell extra virgin olive variety picual, which has a sale price of 12.85 euros in Carrefour, compared to 8.86 euros in Alcampo.

Among virgin oils in 1 liter format, the difference reaches 53.4%. The most expensive is from the firm Coosur Serie Oro, at 11.80 euros in Carrefour. The cheapest price is shared between the white brands of Carrefour, Lidl and Aldi, at 7.69 euros per liter. The average price of this variety of oil is 8.91 euros.

The study, whose data was taken on September 4, compares 144 prices of virgin and extra virgin olive oils for sale in Alcampo, Carrefour, Dia, Hipercor, Eroski, Mercadona, Aldi and Lidl. You can check the complete comparison of prices by brand and super in this link.

Speculation

Given the evidence found, Facua calls on the Government to thoroughly investigate the escalation of prices that is taking place in the sector and apply caps on profit margins in all phases of the chain, since "the increases are not only a consequence of bad olive harvests, but also of speculation", Ensure.

In addition, the association recalls that the royal decree law by which the VAT reduction from 10 to 5% was approved prohibits since January any increase that is not the result of cost increases, so it would represent a practice, in its opinion, "punishable".

  • Supermarkets
  • Inflation
  • Feeding