Vasilis Kokkalis criticizes voluntary price reduction initiative in Greece

Vasilis Kokkalis, president of INCA Thessaly, has criticized the voluntary nature of the National Initiative for Price Reduction in Greece, arguing that the state should take primary responsibility for social cohesion rather than relying on the goodwill of businesses.

Speaking ahead of the initiative's launch, Kokkalis noted that since the primary goal of a business is profitability, a more substantial market supervision framework is required to address the cost of living. He raised concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the supply chain, specifically the journey of products from the farm to the shelf.

Kokkalis emphasized that multiple intermediaries often exist between producers and supermarkets, making it difficult to accurately track profit margins at each stage. He argued that the state must understand the actual costs incurred by farmers, packagers, transporters, and retailers to identify where excessive price burdens are being created. He concluded that both farmers and consumers are currently losing out due to low producer prices and high retail costs.