The Cyprus Consumers Association (CCA) has expressed concern over the continued decline in the number of products listed on e-kalathi, noting that price variations are now appearing even between branches of the same supermarket chain.
The latest CCA data for October 2025 show a clear downward trend in shared product codes across supermarkets, with fewer items available month by month.
Fewer shared products between supermarkets
Of the 478 product codes currently included in e-kalathi, only 200 were found to be common among Sklavenitis, Athienitis, and AlphaMega supermarkets as of 31 October, down from 234 in September, 260 in August, and 267 in July.
When including all nationwide chains, the number of shared products falls to just 76.
Price comparisons between supermarkets
Comparing the total cost of these 200 shared products, Sklavenitis remained the cheapest, at €823.92, followed by Athienitis at €836.45 and AlphaMega at €873.91.
In specific categories:
- Dairy products: €108.30 at Sklavenitis, €111.04 at Athienitis, €114.66 at AlphaMega.
- Non-alcoholic beverages: €122.52, €124.45, and €132.07 respectively.
- Personal care: €142.37, €148.15, and €153.14 respectively.
The CCA also noted that the price gap between the cheapest and most expensive supermarkets narrowed from 13% in July to 6% in October: a sign of stronger competition, though it remains unclear whether this is due to falling prices at costlier stores or rising prices at cheaper ones.
Product listings and branch price differences
The number of products listed per supermarket also continues to fall. Sklavenitis offered 461 products in October (up slightly from 458 in September), while AlphaMega listed 371 (up from 362). Lidl and Pop Life had the lowest participation, with just 117 and 170 products respectively, limiting consumer choice.
For the first time, the CCA also observed price differences between different branches of the same supermarket chain- a trend that had not been recorded in previous months and now requires investigation.
CCA president Marios Droushiotis said the findings are based solely on e-kalathi data and emphasised the organisation’s commitment to transparency:
“We will continue to monitor price trends on e-kalathi and publish our conclusions based on detailed evaluation and analysis,” he said.
Also read: Rising food prices in Cyprus persist despite negative inflation
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