The Belgian is not equal on the prices of his supermarket. Yes, Colruyt and Lidl are sometimes cheaper in Flanders. But not Delhaize, which displays the same prices throughout the country. Lidl reports, however, that this is only a difference on a few items and only in a few stores.
At Colruyt, it seems more marked.
How can these disparities between regions be explained? Quite simply because since the arrival of Albert Heijn (only in Flanders), the pressure has increased on Colruyt, which wants to charge the lowest prices. But this currency is practiced at the regional level. Colruyt collects prices and compares promotions within a given radius and not across the whole country. “In Flanders, we have additional pressure,” explains Nathalie Roisin, the spokesperson. “But this difference between Colruyt only concerns a minority of products and is very small: you should not believe that there can be 10 euros less on a receipt depending on the location. Note that the price difference is also displayed during online purchases, via Collect&Go: the prices applied are those of the store chosen for the collection of the shopping.
Supermarkets: ever-widening price gaps
But this increase was not passed on in the same way according to the brands: prices rose very significantly at Delhaize and Carrefour, less at Colruyt and Lidl.