Sunday Times analysis shows stark price differences
A 400g tub of Sudocrem costs €11.79 at Tesco in Ireland and €6.85 in its British stores
Irish goods including Clonakilty sausages, Irish Yogurts and Sudocrem, the nappy rash cream, are cheaper in British supermarkets than in Irish outlets, an investigation by The Sunday Times has found.
Some retailers that operate in both countries, including Tesco and Boots, charge Irish customers more for the same products at current exchange rates.
The findings will increase concern over whether retailers give Irish shoppers a fair deal against the background of an escalating cost of living crisis and claims of price gouging in sectors such as hotels and car rental.
Matt Carthy, a Sinn Fein TD, said yesterday: “It is clear Irish consumers are being ripped off and nobody appears to have control of this situation. The government and the [Competition and Consumer Protection Commission] need to clarify the full reasons why Irish customers are paying more for the exact same products than their British counterparts.”
Ged Nash, a Labour TD, said it would be “galling for Irish customers to see familiar products that are produced in the Republic costing us much more than they do across the water or in the north”.
The Sunday Times analysis found that a 400g tub of Sudocrem, which is made in Baldoyle, Dublin, costs €11.79 in Tesco in Ireland, 72 per cent more than the price at Tesco in Britain of £5.80 (€6.85). The product costs €11.90 in SuperValu in Ireland, more than twice the price at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Britain where it is £5 (€5.91).
A four-pack of diet fat-free Irish Yogurts, made in Clonakilty, Co Cork, is on special offer in Sainsbury’s but usually retails at £1.50 (€1.77).
A six-pack of the same yogurt retails for €3.99 (£3.38) in SuperValu, which works out at 66c (56p) per pot compared with 44c (37p) per pot in the UK — so 50 per cent more in Ireland.
An eight-pack of Clonakilty traditional Irish pork sausages costs £1.50 (€1.77) in Asda but is €2.30 (£1.95) in SuperValu, about 30 per cent more expensive. The same sausages, which are made in Ireland, are 12 per cent more expensive in Dunnes Stores here at €1.99 (£1.68).
Even on products on which Irish supermarkets compete on price, British shoppers can still get a better deal. Tesco advertises that it matches discounter Aldi’s price of €3.60 for a standard-sized box of Barry’s Gold Blend tea, a staple in many Irish households, with SuperValu, Dunnes and Lidl also pricing at this level. However, Morrisons supermarket in Britain sells the same product slightly cheaper, at £3 (€3.54).
Retailers operating in both markets also offer British shoppers better value on popular non-Irish products, with Tesco selling Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, Weetabix cereal and Hovis bread for less in Britain than in Ireland. Its loose British potatoes cost twice as much as its loose Irish potatoes, with 1kg bags of carrots also almost twice the price here.
In Boots, a 360ml bottle of Garnier coconut shampoo which sells for £2 (€2.36) is more than twice as expensive here at €5.29 (£4.48). Boots charges Irish women more for many period products: 14-packs of Bodyform sanitary towels are on special offer in both countries but are over 50 per cent more expensive here at €2.59 (£2.19) for one pack while in the UK it is £2.65 (€3.13) for a twin pack.
Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Boots said several factors lay behind the price differences, including transport, exchange rates, excise and VAT.
However, VAT on food and period products in Ireland is typically zero or at a reduced rate, although shampoo is at the standard rate, which is higher than in Britain.
Each store said it competed on price and offered value to Irish consumers. Boots said it ensured its pricing “is in line with the local market”, while Lidl said: “Ireland and the UK operate different supermarket groups, with different buying behaviours, and cannot be compared like for like.”
SuperValu and Dunnes did not respond to requests for comment. Manufacturers said pricing was an issue for retailers.
Damian O’Reilly, lecturer in management at Technical University Dublin, said Irish supermarkets were typically smaller than those in the UK, partly due to planning guidelines that capped their size and led to increased costs.
The Department of Agriculture said an Office for Fairness and Transparency in the Agri-Food Supply Chain was being established but would deal only with business-to-business relationships.
Carthy said the bill setting up the regulator indicated it would be “toothless”, lack enforcement powers and analyse only existing information.
“What we know is how much farmers receive . . . and we know what the consumer pays for the product at the end of the day,” Carthy said.
“Where there’s a major lack of transparency is in what’s happened in between, and according to the heads of the bill, we’re not going to have any further clarity.”
Nash said some price differences were so extreme that retailers’ claims about higher costs in Ireland in terms of wages and other factors were “simply not credible”.
“Without evidence to the contrary, it isn’t hard to conclude that some big supermarket operators are taking Irish consumers for a ride, using the Irish market to boost the bottom line across their UK and EU operations,” he said.
All exchange rate conversions were made via XE.com yesterday.
I guess the silver lining here is that we don’t live in the UK
There was a story during the week about Tesco in the UK de-listing Heinz Beans because Heinz had increased their prices. But Tesco Ireland were more than happy to stock Heinz and pass along the increases.
Sudocrem isn’t made in Ireland anymore
Didn’t the same come out 10 odd years ago, l remember electric toothbrushes, so up the north is cheaper then?
Doesn’t that say more about Tesco?
I was driving back and forth between Ireland and England for years and I found little difference in Aldi and lidl prices, except for alcohol which is tax issue.
The ‘Irish Premium’. If we had leadership in this country something might be done about it.
We’re the highly paid regulators ?
Asda isn’t even mentioned in that article and that place is like going back to prices from twenty years ago
“In line with the local market”, as Boots so succinctly put it.
So much for “buy Irish”
Yes I work for an Irish company and our website selling direct to consumers is more expensive than our UK supermarket prices.
The Web manager always complains but is told they can’t list cheaper because x product has an exclusive promotion deal with x retailer in the UK… problem being x product is normally always on promotion with on of the retailers and our UK sales team throw their toys out of the cot if anyone suggests our products get sold their at our actual costed retail price.
The other thing I notice with Ireland is you can’t sell direct to the likes of Dunnes because they would want you to stock their shelves of the product so you have to use a middle man who then adds margin naturally because they are providing a service.
Dunnes create an illusion that they are saving money but the cost still gets passed to the customer.
It’s a joke tbh I can order some of our products from a UK online retailer and get them cheaper than buying in the factory with a 20-30% employee discount……
I would say though that it’s more to do with UK retailers pressuring constantly for lower prices and the Irish equivalents being like… whatever. Even with Brexit when prices were going to start rising for UK consumers the UK retailers told us to suck it up, so manufacturers took what would have been cost of living increases.. we have re-engineered products to stay at a price point in the UK by offering less in the same pack format and Ireland that wasn’t experiencing the same pressures just had to do the same.
Anyway rant over.
Edit: a Correction on dunnes, just asked someone its not stacking shelves its because Dunnes have no central distribution for ambient products.
I also find shopping in GBP can be up to 20% cheaper online. We’re taken for a ride with the fx rate used.
Seems like the key point of the story is to shop in Lidl or Aldi.
Plus ‘brands’ in terrible are woeful, you are paying for their marketing, not their quality.
Generally speaking, companies will charge as much as they can before customers stop buying their products. Their raison d’etre is profit maximisation. Customers in Ireland are obviously willing to pay more than custoners in the UK.
Apparently Tesco executives refer to the country as “Treasure Ireland”.
There’s no difference between Penneys and Primark in UK. £3.50 will always be €4. In fact due to price competition with Dunnes where Penneys has to be cheapest you can get better deals on some products here vs UK
Simple solution: stop buying from Tesco or anyone pricing themselves in the same bracket, including SuperValu, Dunnes and so on. People peacefully protested Dunnes support of South Africa in the 80s, and it forced change.
Shift to Aldi/Lidl if cost is your bottom line. Message, letter or email the stores to let them know why you’re not buying from them any more. Back that up by adding a pic of your receipt showing them how much of your hard-earned cash they’re not getting.
There are other cogs: farmers and producers will complain about Aldi/Lidl selling at cost, but you won’t hear a peep from them for the pricing disparity the Times report shows. (Check out Argos, Currys and any big UK retailer operating in Ireland – the markups can be significant). None of this is new, as northern border shoppers have known for decades.
SF and others are right to call out the state and government watchdog – admittedly without offering any suggestion to correct the issue, such as the one I suggest above – but authorities will roll out logistics, inflation, higher Irish costs or any other obscure excuse available.
We’re all into this ‘buy Irish’ advertising of supporting jobs and the little people, but the dollar is what matters to the supermarkets. But loyalty is a two-way street.
And don’t forget: every little helps.
Because we pay it and bitch about it and pay it again next time.
Irish Whiskey is way cheaper in the UK
Tesco used to call Ireland “Treasure Island”. It’s indefensible but a symptom of the wider scandal that Ireland can’t attract investment from the continent.
Imagine what Carrefour and Kaufland would do to our grocery landscape!
Have a look at H & M or new look clothes where it shows on the price tag euro price in Ireland and sterling, the difference is shocking.
Yup, my brothers live in London and I’m often over there for weeks and I can’t get over how even there the food is FAR cheaper than here. My girlfriend was against moving there due to prices, then we went to visit and she was looking up jobs after the first day, they paid more as well. Their rent was similar but the places are far better quality and much more of them. There is stuff I buy for 7 euro here I was buying for 3 pound there.
Its the irish love affair with brands. We have an inbuilt perception that brands are better then yellow pack or own brands. These companies know this and price accordingly.
This ain’t news… this has been going on for years! Ireland is massively more expensive.
Ya we get it we’re getting dry bummed. It’s Sunday the weather’s nice. Try to enjoy it ffs
All these cost of living reports are highly depressing. I liked it when I didn’t know my pants were getting pulled down
It is a major drain of the ecomony of border towns. I live near the border and I buy all my shopping in the North. Most people I know do the same thing.
The paddy tax has been around for years, have you ever compared the sterling and euro price tags in clothes shops?
It’s not just Ireland, this happens in Jersey CI too. Main exports are spuds (Jersey Royals) and Milk/milk products. You can buy these in the UK for less than in Jersey. Ridiculous on a tiny island 🏝
Ireland once again cucking themselves for Britain
Cost of living is just cheaper in the UK. Tax, cars etc. This will come up in a United Ireland debate and you have to try to win over unionist on why they would vote for a UI when they will have to pay more than what they do now.
A 0,7l bottle of Bushmills costs €18 in Latvia. Costs around €30 in actual Bushmills brewery.
This country is quare annoying sometimes
Rip-off republic in full swing. It has always been like that, too many hungry hoorbags in the 26 counties. It’s the root cause for practically all of your problems.
If we didn’t have Aldi or Lidl we would be screwed by the top 3 particularly Tesco
Salaries are about 25% higher in Ireland. That would explain some of the difference. Still doesn’t explain 70%.
I can feed my family of 3 REAAAAAAALLLLY well here in the UK for about 60 pound week. And i mean that’s with all the luxury and treats we can manage. I nearly DIE when I go home and just ‘pop into’ Tesco or Dunnes for a few small bits to get through a Day or two. Prices in Ireland are SHOCKING.
I remember an eclair was about 4 euro in a Centra. My English husband nearly had a heart attack ‘You’d get 4 for 1 pound 50 in our local bakery’ lol he couldn’t believe it.
Ireland just doesn’t have as many options as the UK for supermarkets, unsuprising.
Rip-off republic
A part of it is that for some reason Irish consumers are willing to pay more.
You can even see it when it comes to Lidl and Aldi which are the only supermarkets that offer decent value. I know so many people who turn turn their noses up to shopping there because they assume that cheap prices means lower quality.
I live in Dundalk so am often in Tesco in Newry and in Dundalk. I would never do a full shop in Dundalk that would be financial suicide.
One example Coke Zero 24 pack €15.95 in Dundalk. £9 in Newry. I think the Coke zero is £8 with the clubcard.
I saw one chap selling Coke Zero in Jonesborough at the bargain prices of €13 a pack – he’s buying them in Newry…
I’m fairly certain alcohol will be even worse.
“Treasure island”
Shop local they said
It’s not called treasure island for British companies for no reason
I was in Spain a few weeks ago, seeing everything priced so low it feels like I travelled 15 years back in time.
45 comments
Sunday Times analysis shows stark price differences
A 400g tub of Sudocrem costs €11.79 at Tesco in Ireland and €6.85 in its British stores
Irish goods including Clonakilty sausages, Irish Yogurts and Sudocrem, the nappy rash cream, are cheaper in British supermarkets than in Irish outlets, an investigation by The Sunday Times has found.
Some retailers that operate in both countries, including Tesco and Boots, charge Irish customers more for the same products at current exchange rates.
The findings will increase concern over whether retailers give Irish shoppers a fair deal against the background of an escalating cost of living crisis and claims of price gouging in sectors such as hotels and car rental.
Matt Carthy, a Sinn Fein TD, said yesterday: “It is clear Irish consumers are being ripped off and nobody appears to have control of this situation. The government and the [Competition and Consumer Protection Commission] need to clarify the full reasons why Irish customers are paying more for the exact same products than their British counterparts.”
Ged Nash, a Labour TD, said it would be “galling for Irish customers to see familiar products that are produced in the Republic costing us much more than they do across the water or in the north”.
The Sunday Times analysis found that a 400g tub of Sudocrem, which is made in Baldoyle, Dublin, costs €11.79 in Tesco in Ireland, 72 per cent more than the price at Tesco in Britain of £5.80 (€6.85). The product costs €11.90 in SuperValu in Ireland, more than twice the price at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Britain where it is £5 (€5.91).
A four-pack of diet fat-free Irish Yogurts, made in Clonakilty, Co Cork, is on special offer in Sainsbury’s but usually retails at £1.50 (€1.77).
A six-pack of the same yogurt retails for €3.99 (£3.38) in SuperValu, which works out at 66c (56p) per pot compared with 44c (37p) per pot in the UK — so 50 per cent more in Ireland.
An eight-pack of Clonakilty traditional Irish pork sausages costs £1.50 (€1.77) in Asda but is €2.30 (£1.95) in SuperValu, about 30 per cent more expensive. The same sausages, which are made in Ireland, are 12 per cent more expensive in Dunnes Stores here at €1.99 (£1.68).
Even on products on which Irish supermarkets compete on price, British shoppers can still get a better deal. Tesco advertises that it matches discounter Aldi’s price of €3.60 for a standard-sized box of Barry’s Gold Blend tea, a staple in many Irish households, with SuperValu, Dunnes and Lidl also pricing at this level. However, Morrisons supermarket in Britain sells the same product slightly cheaper, at £3 (€3.54).
Retailers operating in both markets also offer British shoppers better value on popular non-Irish products, with Tesco selling Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, Weetabix cereal and Hovis bread for less in Britain than in Ireland. Its loose British potatoes cost twice as much as its loose Irish potatoes, with 1kg bags of carrots also almost twice the price here.
In Boots, a 360ml bottle of Garnier coconut shampoo which sells for £2 (€2.36) is more than twice as expensive here at €5.29 (£4.48). Boots charges Irish women more for many period products: 14-packs of Bodyform sanitary towels are on special offer in both countries but are over 50 per cent more expensive here at €2.59 (£2.19) for one pack while in the UK it is £2.65 (€3.13) for a twin pack.
Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Boots said several factors lay behind the price differences, including transport, exchange rates, excise and VAT.
However, VAT on food and period products in Ireland is typically zero or at a reduced rate, although shampoo is at the standard rate, which is higher than in Britain.
Each store said it competed on price and offered value to Irish consumers. Boots said it ensured its pricing “is in line with the local market”, while Lidl said: “Ireland and the UK operate different supermarket groups, with different buying behaviours, and cannot be compared like for like.”
SuperValu and Dunnes did not respond to requests for comment. Manufacturers said pricing was an issue for retailers.
Damian O’Reilly, lecturer in management at Technical University Dublin, said Irish supermarkets were typically smaller than those in the UK, partly due to planning guidelines that capped their size and led to increased costs.
The Department of Agriculture said an Office for Fairness and Transparency in the Agri-Food Supply Chain was being established but would deal only with business-to-business relationships.
Carthy said the bill setting up the regulator indicated it would be “toothless”, lack enforcement powers and analyse only existing information.
“What we know is how much farmers receive . . . and we know what the consumer pays for the product at the end of the day,” Carthy said.
“Where there’s a major lack of transparency is in what’s happened in between, and according to the heads of the bill, we’re not going to have any further clarity.”
Nash said some price differences were so extreme that retailers’ claims about higher costs in Ireland in terms of wages and other factors were “simply not credible”.
“Without evidence to the contrary, it isn’t hard to conclude that some big supermarket operators are taking Irish consumers for a ride, using the Irish market to boost the bottom line across their UK and EU operations,” he said.
All exchange rate conversions were made via XE.com yesterday.
I guess the silver lining here is that we don’t live in the UK
There was a story during the week about Tesco in the UK de-listing Heinz Beans because Heinz had increased their prices. But Tesco Ireland were more than happy to stock Heinz and pass along the increases.
Sudocrem isn’t made in Ireland anymore
Didn’t the same come out 10 odd years ago, l remember electric toothbrushes, so up the north is cheaper then?
Doesn’t that say more about Tesco?
I was driving back and forth between Ireland and England for years and I found little difference in Aldi and lidl prices, except for alcohol which is tax issue.
The ‘Irish Premium’. If we had leadership in this country something might be done about it.
We’re the highly paid regulators ?
Asda isn’t even mentioned in that article and that place is like going back to prices from twenty years ago
“In line with the local market”, as Boots so succinctly put it.
So much for “buy Irish”
Yes I work for an Irish company and our website selling direct to consumers is more expensive than our UK supermarket prices.
The Web manager always complains but is told they can’t list cheaper because x product has an exclusive promotion deal with x retailer in the UK… problem being x product is normally always on promotion with on of the retailers and our UK sales team throw their toys out of the cot if anyone suggests our products get sold their at our actual costed retail price.
The other thing I notice with Ireland is you can’t sell direct to the likes of Dunnes because they would want you to stock their shelves of the product so you have to use a middle man who then adds margin naturally because they are providing a service.
Dunnes create an illusion that they are saving money but the cost still gets passed to the customer.
It’s a joke tbh I can order some of our products from a UK online retailer and get them cheaper than buying in the factory with a 20-30% employee discount……
I would say though that it’s more to do with UK retailers pressuring constantly for lower prices and the Irish equivalents being like… whatever. Even with Brexit when prices were going to start rising for UK consumers the UK retailers told us to suck it up, so manufacturers took what would have been cost of living increases.. we have re-engineered products to stay at a price point in the UK by offering less in the same pack format and Ireland that wasn’t experiencing the same pressures just had to do the same.
Anyway rant over.
Edit: a Correction on dunnes, just asked someone its not stacking shelves its because Dunnes have no central distribution for ambient products.
I also find shopping in GBP can be up to 20% cheaper online. We’re taken for a ride with the fx rate used.
Seems like the key point of the story is to shop in Lidl or Aldi.
Plus ‘brands’ in terrible are woeful, you are paying for their marketing, not their quality.
Generally speaking, companies will charge as much as they can before customers stop buying their products. Their raison d’etre is profit maximisation. Customers in Ireland are obviously willing to pay more than custoners in the UK.
Apparently Tesco executives refer to the country as “Treasure Ireland”.
There’s no difference between Penneys and Primark in UK. £3.50 will always be €4. In fact due to price competition with Dunnes where Penneys has to be cheapest you can get better deals on some products here vs UK
Simple solution: stop buying from Tesco or anyone pricing themselves in the same bracket, including SuperValu, Dunnes and so on. People peacefully protested Dunnes support of South Africa in the 80s, and it forced change.
Shift to Aldi/Lidl if cost is your bottom line. Message, letter or email the stores to let them know why you’re not buying from them any more. Back that up by adding a pic of your receipt showing them how much of your hard-earned cash they’re not getting.
There are other cogs: farmers and producers will complain about Aldi/Lidl selling at cost, but you won’t hear a peep from them for the pricing disparity the Times report shows. (Check out Argos, Currys and any big UK retailer operating in Ireland – the markups can be significant). None of this is new, as northern border shoppers have known for decades.
SF and others are right to call out the state and government watchdog – admittedly without offering any suggestion to correct the issue, such as the one I suggest above – but authorities will roll out logistics, inflation, higher Irish costs or any other obscure excuse available.
We’re all into this ‘buy Irish’ advertising of supporting jobs and the little people, but the dollar is what matters to the supermarkets. But loyalty is a two-way street.
And don’t forget: every little helps.
Because we pay it and bitch about it and pay it again next time.
Irish Whiskey is way cheaper in the UK
Tesco used to call Ireland “Treasure Island”. It’s indefensible but a symptom of the wider scandal that Ireland can’t attract investment from the continent.
Imagine what Carrefour and Kaufland would do to our grocery landscape!
Have a look at H & M or new look clothes where it shows on the price tag euro price in Ireland and sterling, the difference is shocking.
Yup, my brothers live in London and I’m often over there for weeks and I can’t get over how even there the food is FAR cheaper than here. My girlfriend was against moving there due to prices, then we went to visit and she was looking up jobs after the first day, they paid more as well. Their rent was similar but the places are far better quality and much more of them. There is stuff I buy for 7 euro here I was buying for 3 pound there.
Its the irish love affair with brands. We have an inbuilt perception that brands are better then yellow pack or own brands. These companies know this and price accordingly.
This ain’t news… this has been going on for years! Ireland is massively more expensive.
Ya we get it we’re getting dry bummed. It’s Sunday the weather’s nice. Try to enjoy it ffs
All these cost of living reports are highly depressing. I liked it when I didn’t know my pants were getting pulled down
It is a major drain of the ecomony of border towns. I live near the border and I buy all my shopping in the North. Most people I know do the same thing.
The paddy tax has been around for years, have you ever compared the sterling and euro price tags in clothes shops?
It’s not just Ireland, this happens in Jersey CI too. Main exports are spuds (Jersey Royals) and Milk/milk products. You can buy these in the UK for less than in Jersey. Ridiculous on a tiny island 🏝
Ireland once again cucking themselves for Britain
Cost of living is just cheaper in the UK. Tax, cars etc. This will come up in a United Ireland debate and you have to try to win over unionist on why they would vote for a UI when they will have to pay more than what they do now.
A 0,7l bottle of Bushmills costs €18 in Latvia. Costs around €30 in actual Bushmills brewery.
This country is quare annoying sometimes
Rip-off republic in full swing. It has always been like that, too many hungry hoorbags in the 26 counties. It’s the root cause for practically all of your problems.
If we didn’t have Aldi or Lidl we would be screwed by the top 3 particularly Tesco
Salaries are about 25% higher in Ireland. That would explain some of the difference. Still doesn’t explain 70%.
I can feed my family of 3 REAAAAAAALLLLY well here in the UK for about 60 pound week. And i mean that’s with all the luxury and treats we can manage. I nearly DIE when I go home and just ‘pop into’ Tesco or Dunnes for a few small bits to get through a Day or two. Prices in Ireland are SHOCKING.
I remember an eclair was about 4 euro in a Centra. My English husband nearly had a heart attack ‘You’d get 4 for 1 pound 50 in our local bakery’ lol he couldn’t believe it.
Ireland just doesn’t have as many options as the UK for supermarkets, unsuprising.
Rip-off republic
A part of it is that for some reason Irish consumers are willing to pay more.
You can even see it when it comes to Lidl and Aldi which are the only supermarkets that offer decent value. I know so many people who turn turn their noses up to shopping there because they assume that cheap prices means lower quality.
I live in Dundalk so am often in Tesco in Newry and in Dundalk. I would never do a full shop in Dundalk that would be financial suicide.
One example Coke Zero 24 pack €15.95 in Dundalk. £9 in Newry. I think the Coke zero is £8 with the clubcard.
I saw one chap selling Coke Zero in Jonesborough at the bargain prices of €13 a pack – he’s buying them in Newry…
I’m fairly certain alcohol will be even worse.
“Treasure island”
Shop local they said
It’s not called treasure island for British companies for no reason
I was in Spain a few weeks ago, seeing everything priced so low it feels like I travelled 15 years back in time.