Cyprus’s new e-kalathi price comparison tool will be discussed at a high-level meeting today, following yesterday’s consultation with retail sector representatives at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEBE).
KEBE President Stavros Stavrou will lead a delegation to meet with Commerce Minister George Papanastasiou this morning to discuss the initiative in detail.
Sources indicate the government is determined to launch the project before Christmas, even if only in trial form.
However, supermarkets continue to express concerns about potential market disruption and consumer confusion, warning that unfair competition could arise if not all supermarkets participate in the initial phase.
The KEBE delegation will meet with the Commerce Ministry at 8am to convey the retail sector’s positions and concerns.
Yesterday’s meeting at KEBE, which included representatives from the supermarket association, the Cyprus retail association, and the Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) group, reaffirmed supermarkets’ serious concerns about the rushed timeline potentially compromising the platform’s effectiveness.
KEBE Secretary General Marios Tsiakkis told CNA that the meeting identified “several significant and substantial issues requiring clarification” to ensure the e-kalathi tool serves its intended purpose effectively.
Consumer Protection Service Director Constantinos Karagiorgis said they are working intensively with the contracted Greek company and supermarkets to launch e-kalathi by December 20, initially on a voluntary basis.
The trial period is expected to last two months, allowing time to gather feedback and resolve issues before the official launch.
However, Andreas Hadjiadamou, executive secretary of the Pancyprian Supermarket Association, maintains the sector’s opposition to the project, though acknowledging it must now be implemented as law.
He argued the tool is unnecessary given the sector’s existing competition and transparency, expressing concerns about potential competitive distortions if product listings vary between supermarkets.
