Call for retail ombudsman to look into competition

CONSUMER representatives have called for the establishment of a retail ombudsman and national grocery website in the wake of a report showing a slowdown in competition among supermarkets.

In the wake of calls for even larger retailers to be allowed flood the Irish market, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has also called for a government-appointed consumer watchdog to be disbanded.

A National Consumer Agency (NCA) report this week found that despite a 14% reduction in supermarket prices since January 2009, there was little difference in the cost of many branded goods in large stores.

The NCA called for planning regulations to be lifted to allow even larger retailers to set up in Ireland.

Dermot Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers Association of Ireland, called for the setting up of a retail ombudsman who would be given statutory powers to investigate big supermarket businesses.

Mr Jewell also suggested that a national groceries or goods database be established for consumers so they could monitor prices of products online. It was possible that up to 10,000 items would have to be listed on the independent website.

Meanwhile, the IFA has hit out at the NCA’s call for planning restrictions to be lifted so that larger foreign retailers could enter the Irish market.

Such a scenario would kill off local business and see the closure of food producers and small retailers, it said.

Retailer Asda said it would not comment on the call for retail planning rules to be changed. It said: “We don’t comment on speculation; however, we’re always interested in pursing new opportunities.”