Grocery prices ‘inflated’ at Belgian service stations

24 June 2004

BRUSSELS – Consumers pay much more for groceries at petrol stations than they would pay at conventional grocery stores, it was reported Thursday.

Belgium’s Test-Achats consumer association released its findings after purchasing 42 identical articles in 33 service stations – 14 along the highway and 19 elsewhere.

Researchers then compared prices with those at six traditional supermarkets, including Delhaize, Carrefour and discount retailer Colruyt.

On average, highway service stations were found to be 73 percent more expensive than at large grocery stores.

As for price comparisons of individual products, a can of Jupiler beer was found to be 122 more expensive, Lotus biscuits 150 percent more expensive and Soubry pasta a whopping 228 percent pricier at service stations than at conventional supermarkets.

Among service stations, the worst offenders were located at Drongen-Gand-Ouest on the E40 expressway heading towards Brussels, where prices are 117 percent higher than at the  supermarket.

In French-speaking Wallonia, the stations with the most inflated prices are at Bierges, Spy, Froyennes and Eghezée.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject : Belgian news