The image of empty shelves and Supermarkets Without customers, it could become a reality, and a worrying event in northern Europe. Sweden lives these days a social phenomenon that has put the main food chains in check of the country. Citizens, fed up paying exorbitant prices for basic products, have started a boycott towards supermarkets which is already generating tangible effects and threatens to extend to other European countries, including Spain.
The Boicot Movement to Supermarkets, known as Bojkotta neighborka 12 (boycott week 12), It has been created as A popular response to the unstoppable increase in the cost of the shopping basket. Far from being a simple symbolic gesture, the initiative has managed to viralize on social networks and add adherents every day, becoming an authentic headache for large distributors. The tension is evident, and while consumers demand responsibility, supermarkets defend themselves by blaming external factors such as war or climate change. In this scenario of growing social discontent, there are few who wonder if other European countries could replicate this citizen pressure strategy. The conditions are served: salaries that do not rise to the rhythm of inflation, record benefits for large chains and a population that feels that the balance has been completely unbalanced. Is Spain next to follow the Swedish example and also suffer a boycott from supermarkets?
THE ORIGIN OF THE BOICOT TO THE SUPERMARCADOS
All It began as a peaceful and organized protest on social networksunder the slogan Bojkotta neighborka 12, which invited citizens to Do not make any purchase in large supermarket chains during the twelfth week of the year. The proposal quickly gained strength, encouraged by a generalized feeling of fed up. In just a few days, the hashtag related to the boycott became a trend, and the images of empty carts and deserted stores began to circulate throughout the country.
The discomfort is clear: Since 2022, the cost of feeding a family in Sweden has shot up to 30,000 crowns a year (about 2,700 euros). Meanwhile, basic products such as oil, cheese or chocolate have experienced price increases of up to 9% only in the last month. For many citizens, the problem is not only economic, but ethical. They consider that large chains prioritize their benefits while thousands of families can barely fill their pantry.
The demands of consumers: beyond the price
Boicot drivers to supermarkets They not only demand that prices be lowered, but also demand a fairer model of distribution. Through communications and networks in networks, they have made it clear that they do not want to continue holding with their money the millionaire margins of large companies. According to them, the price increase should be distributed equitably throughout the supply chain, without the most vulnerable consumers (retirees, monoparental students) who charge with all the weight.
Among the concrete demands are freezing of the benefits of large distributorsa greater responsibility for the groups most affected by inflation and the promotion of small local producers. To do this, Citizens are encouraged to buy in neighborhood stores, farmers and cooperatives marketsin addition to Share resources with friends and neighbors, recovering the collaborative economy as a form of resistance.
The response of supermarkets and the Swedish government
In the face of social pressure, the main food chains in the country, such as Ica, Coop, Willys and Hemköp, have had to react publicly. Although they claim to understand the discontent of consumers, they defend that prices have been affected by causes outside their control, such as the increase in raw materials, bad harvests or geopolitical tensions.
The Willys spokesman, Johanna Eurénhas expressed that, although they respect the right of citizens to demonstrate, They do not believe that a boycott is the best solution. For her part, Sweden’s Minister of Finance, Elisabeth Svanteson, ha recognized that the cost of life has become a central concern for many families. In response, the Government has presented a new food strategy that seeks to increase national production and promote more fair competition in the sector.
Can this boycott get to Spain?
The great unknown now is whether this type of mobilization could echo in other European countries, especially in those where inflation has hit family pockets. Spain is no stranger to this problem: In recent years, the price of foods such as olive oil, bread or eggs has risen alarmingly, while large chains continue to increase their profit margins. This context has generated a growing distrust of distribution giants.
Although for now there is no concrete initiative similar to Swedishthe precedent of Bulgaria, where there was a similar boycott last month that reduced sales by almost 30%demonstrates that discomfort is not exclusive to northern Europe. If prices continue to rise and government measures fail to relieve the cost of life, it would not be unreasonable to think that Spanish consumers also choose to organize and raise their voice.
Let’s not forget, that One of the key factors in the expansion of this boycott has been the ability to disseminate social networks. Far from being limited to traditional protest channels, citizens have used Instagram, X (previously Twitter), Tiktok and other platforms to tell their experiences, denounce abuses and organize collective actions. The strength of the message has crossed borders and has served as a mirror for millions of Europeans who live similar situations.
