Well bootneck80 that was some vitriol you posted, I take it someone has pissed in your weetabix!

I was merely pointing out a fact which does contribute to the high prices but also prices are affected by commodities traders which is the real reason why things like butter and cheese rising by over 65%. They are the real villains of the systems as they trade to gain regardless of social implications but that is capitalism for you.

As far as supermarkets earning record profits you also have to balance in long term investments and the jobs and infrastructure they bring which everyone benefits from one way or another. It would be true to say also without these large chain prices would be higher but maybe the quality would be better if not mass produced but how do you feed 65 million people in a country without mass production?

I can speak from experience by living in a country with a population of just over 4 million and still mass production in a primarily agriculturally based economy still exists. Compared to earnings, prices in the UK are still cheaper than here where the small population base can not absorb varying changes in commodities. For example diesel has risen here by 400% in six years which effects prices of all goods in shops as all transport here is by road or diesel rail networks.

I don't feel sorry for supermarkets and that wasn't the reason for the post, it was to highlight an activity that for some seems acceptable but it is one of the costs passed on to other consumers. Businesses are there to make a profit, that is the point of them and you would want that too if you ran a business.

Nothing is ever black and white, just varying shades of grey.