Swedish consumers are taking action against rising food prices, which have surged by an estimated £2,290 since January 2022.
This hike has prompted thousands of people across Sweden to boycott major supermarkets for seven days, starting last Monday, in protest of the “runaway” costs of basic goods. A packet of coffee, for example, is expected to soon exceed 100 kronor (£7.64), reflecting a more than 25% increase since early last year, according to Statistics Sweden.
The boycott has gained momentum through viral social media posts on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, becoming a national topic and a political flashpoint. Protesters accuse a small group of powerful supermarket chains and large producers of prioritizing profits over customers and stifling competition. Meanwhile, supermarkets point to a variety of global factors, such as war, geopolitics, commodity prices, harvest challenges, and the climate crisis, as reasons behind the price hikes.
This Swedish protest follows a wave of similar cost-of-living actions across Europe. In Bulgaria, shoppers boycotted large retailers last month, leading to a nearly 30% drop in turnover. Boycotts in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia also took place in January. The Swedish boycott, called “Bojkotta vecka 12” (Boycott week 12), encouraged consumers to avoid big retailers such as Lidl, Hemköp, Ica, Coop, and Willys.
“We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain,” read one popular social media post. “Food prices have run away while food giants and the big producers are making billions in profits at our expense.”
Data from Matpriskollen tracked the sharpest increases in food prices, with chocolate prices rising by 9.2%, cooking fat by 7.2%, and cheese by 6.4%. Milk and cream saw a 5.4% increase.
Not everyone is convinced by the boycott’s effectiveness. Filippa Lind, a key figure in the protest and a student from Malmö, said she participated both because she felt the impact of the “unreasonably high prices” and as an act of solidarity with others facing similar struggles.
“Politicians need to step in and break apart this oligopoly that is causing high prices because of lack of competition between grocery companies,” Lind stated.
Following the seven-day boycott, the group plans to escalate their protest with a three-week boycott of Ica, Sweden’s largest grocery chain, and the dairy producer Arla, before potentially adding more companies to the list.
“I hope it will lead to political action that will indefinitely lower the prices on basic goods,” Lind added.
The Social Democrat economic spokesperson, Mikael Damberg, criticized the government for its inaction, telling parliament: “In Sweden today, ordinary families empty their savings accounts and borrow money to get through everyday life.”
In response, finance minister Elisabeth Svantesson pointed out that inflation had fallen since the government’s term began in 2022, when it was at 10%. In February 2025, inflation stood at 1.3%, up from 0.6% in January. However, she acknowledged that food prices remained high, adding, “To support those who have it hardest is important.”
Minister of Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren attributed price rises largely to international factors, such as crop failures and higher commodity prices, but emphasized that improving competition within the Swedish food trade was essential.
“Food prices have increased over time and they hit the economically weakest households hardest: families with children, students, and the old on low pensions. It needs to be addressed,” Kullgren stated.
Kullgren also cautioned that boycotts might not have the desired effect and said he could not support them. The government has engaged with food industry figures and presented a new food strategy, which includes measures to boost Swedish food production and improve competition.
