// Poundstretcher has denied raising its prices ahead of launching a 50% off sale
// The retailer said it had faced a 37% price increase from branded food suppliers
Value retailer Poundstretcher has denied claims it raised prices ahead of launching a ‘50% off sale’ earlier this year.
The retailer said its promotion had been “misrepresented” by an article in The Scottish Sun that suggested many items had doubled in price ahead of the sale.
The newspaper quoted shopper Lisa Elder who said that a three-pack of kitchen rolls that she had previously bought for around £3 had been increased to £7.99, which made it more expensive even after the 50% promotion.
A Poundstretcher spokeswoman told The Grocer: “The Scottish Sun article misrepresents our 50% off promotional offer.
“It is not true that our prices are more expensive. In fact, I can assure you that we are generally cheaper than every other retailer in the UK by between 10%-70% on the price our customer pays at the till.”
However, shoppers have taken to Trustpilot to complain about rising prices at Poundstretcher ahead of the promotion.
READ MORE: Poundstretcher launches “warehouse clearance” 50% off sale
Retail Gazette readers have also been lodging their complaints. One reader wrote: “Went in store and the 50% discount caught my eye. Went to buy some logs for wood burner retail recently at £4.50 now priced at £8.99 – very under-handed.”
Another commented: “White Dolce Gusto coffee pods originally were £3.29 but were priced at £5.99 at time of 50% offer which took it to £3. Only a 29p saving, not 50% at all. So deceiving.”
Poundstretcher’s spokeswoman said: “Regarding price increases, there has been a 37% increase in food cost prices compared to last year from branded food suppliers. We are receiving price increases every week from our suppliers with the same supplier sometimes increasing their prices as many as four times since the beginning of January 2022.
She added: “In addition, there has been very significant increases in freight shipping costs from China over the past six months. Despite this background of cost price inflation, we are offering our customers, via the 50% offer, prices that are indeed significantly cheaper than last year.”
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