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Handful of products? In Finland, at least, much of the grocery market is controlled by two dominant players that more or less control the entire supply chain fo

by 2000UltraDeluxe 3y ago

Handful of products? In Finland, at least, much of the grocery market is controlled by two dominant players that more or less control the entire supply chain for many products. Both have been profiteering like crazy lately, and for most people there's no option than their local supermarket.

refurb 3y ago
Supply chain - the materials that go into producing a good or getting the finished good to market. There were no supply issues during covid with many, many products. Yet those prices went up too, even in a country with a high level of competition. Why?
- 2000UltraDeluxe 3y ago
  It's not about disruptions in the supply chain, but rather about controlling it and using it to extract maximum value for the shareholders. Everyone wants their share and nobody will accept a smaller percentage than they did last week. Consumers are caught in the middle, with rapidly increasing costs of living as a result. We as in "society"), have assumed this would be solved by some healthy competition. It's just that we optimized society for maximum short-term gain rather than a market where newcomers are welcome. As a result, the players that are already in the game are free to ignore the forces society assumed would keep things running smoothly.
  - refurb 3y ago
    So wait, inflation isn't due to supply chain issues, but due to "extracting maximum value"? So why was inflation only a problem last year? Did shareholders not try and extract maximum value before that?
    - 2000UltraDeluxe 3y ago
      More pressure to keep profits high due ongoing financial shenanigans. Add consumers with little to no options, and the expectation that the common good is more important than profits. It turned out profits were more important, and now people are angry about the new 230g mayonaise tube costing the same as the 275g one did last year. But at least the new tube required 17% less plastic. Something's got to give if we expect inflation to drop. _Many_ people expect businesses to take the hit. After all, many raised prices due to things like energy costs last winter, but very few lower them again now that production costs go down again.

refurb 3y ago

Supply chain - the materials that go into producing a good or getting the finished good to market. There were no supply issues during covid with many, many products. Yet those prices went up too, even in a country with a high level of competition. Why?

2000UltraDeluxe 3y ago
It's not about disruptions in the supply chain, but rather about controlling it and using it to extract maximum value for the shareholders. Everyone wants their share and nobody will accept a smaller percentage than they did last week. Consumers are caught in the middle, with rapidly increasing costs of living as a result. We as in "society"), have assumed this would be solved by some healthy competition. It's just that we optimized society for maximum short-term gain rather than a market where newcomers are welcome. As a result, the players that are already in the game are free to ignore the forces society assumed would keep things running smoothly.
- refurb 3y ago
  So wait, inflation isn't due to supply chain issues, but due to "extracting maximum value"? So why was inflation only a problem last year? Did shareholders not try and extract maximum value before that?
  - 2000UltraDeluxe 3y ago
    More pressure to keep profits high due ongoing financial shenanigans. Add consumers with little to no options, and the expectation that the common good is more important than profits. It turned out profits were more important, and now people are angry about the new 230g mayonaise tube costing the same as the 275g one did last year. But at least the new tube required 17% less plastic. Something's got to give if we expect inflation to drop. _Many_ people expect businesses to take the hit. After all, many raised prices due to things like energy costs last winter, but very few lower them again now that production costs go down again.