Rising Christmas Food Prices in Sweden and Controversial Supermarket Pricing Practices in 2025

Christmas grocery prices in Sweden are expected to rise about 3% over last year's levels, continuing a trend of increasing food costs that have reached approximately 30% since Christmas 2021, according to Matpriskollen CEO Ulf Mazur. Significant price hikes hit chocolate pralines (over 20%) and coffee (up to 24%), while other key items like butter also rose nearly 12%. Conversely, prices for potatoes and salmon have dropped by more than 17%. Consumers are advised to shop early to secure better prices on items such as coffee, ham, herring, and eggs.

Complicating holiday shopping, an investigation by Kalla Fakta uncovered that numerous Ica stores across Sweden engage in dubious pricing tactics. These stores reportedly lower prices just before inspections by the Swedish Consumer Agency's price control team (PRO), only to raise them again immediately afterward. The probe found 23 Ica stores involved, with Ica Maxi Kalmar demonstrating stark price increases post-inspection—for example, rye bread jumped from 10 to 19.95 kronor. Store managers acknowledged the unfairness of such practices. Meanwhile, Ica and Willys supermarkets accuse each other of similar price manipulation.

This confluence of rising Christmas food costs and supermarket pricing tactics presents challenges for Swedish consumers this holiday season, prompting calls for careful shopping and attention to pricing practices.