Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Statistics Sweden estimates that more than 14% of the population is in relative poverty compared to approximately 7% in the early 1990s.
All parts of the EU are facing soaring energy and food prices and rising inflation, including the wealthiest bloc members such as Sweden, according to The Guardian reporting on Monday.
Sweden has the fifth-highest GDP per capita in the EU and its energy mix includes only 2% of natural gas, making the country more resilient to rising gas prices in Europe.
Poverty in Sweden is significantly below the EU average, but rising inflation is putting pressure on the country’s generous welfare system.
Johan Rindevall, head of Matmissionen social supermarket chain, stressed “Sweden also has a poverty problem… we may not talk about it much, but it’s there – and it’s absolutely got worse this year.”
Matmissionen offers its members food at a significant discount and cooperates with producers and retailers whose products are at risk of being wasted. The products are usually nearing their sell-by date, and have damaged packaging or cosmetic blemishes.
The supermarket chain aims to sell food at very low prices to people in need, limit food waste, and train workers, noting that approximately 40% of employees find full-time work.
Access to affordable food
Swedes with monthly income below approximately 880 euros are eligible for membership, giving them access to food at prices that never exceed 30% of those in discount supermarkets.
Rindevall warned that many members cannot afford balanced diets, stressing that they buy few vegetables, little protein, and a lot of carbohydrates.
He pointed out that membership increased from about 7,200 in January this year to more than 14,700 at the end of October, adding that roughly 40% of new members are families with children.
“Inflation at these rates means we’re seeing many, many more people than ever before… some have started coming in saying they don’t qualify as members, but can’t afford to buy the food they need anywhere else,” Rindevall continued.
He noted that Matmissionen is preparing to open new stores across Sweden, pointing out that the company recently struck deals with the Swedish Food Retailers Federation and other associations, securing the support of the lion’s share of the food sector.”Sweden may still have a good safety net, but it maybe isn’t reactive enough to sudden, big cost of living changes,” Rindevall pointed out and concluded “the only positive thing in all this is that now so many people are talking about impossible food prices that there’s no longer the same stigma in not being able to afford to feed your family… it’s no longer a taboo.”
