In Latvia, a significant issue has arisen regarding the low price food basket that is supposed to include ten diverse categories of food products. The Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) has been monitoring this situation and found that major grocery chains are only covering an average of seven out of ten categories in these low price baskets. Frequent discrepancies are noted, such as the absence of eggs and issues with fresh meat categories, where sometimes processed meat products are erroneously counted as fresh options. This inconsistency has raised concerns about the reliability of these advertised low prices and their actual availability to consumers.

PTAC representative Sanita Gertmane expressed frustration with how the low price baskets are implemented by stores, indicating that more often than not, essential items are missing from shelves. Retailer Rimi has contested these claims, asserting that they strive to include eggs and other staples in their low price offerings whenever possible, noting that it largely hinges on supplier capabilities and pricing strategies. Rimi's public relations manager, Inga Bite, emphasized the importance of collaboration along the supply chain to ensure that the promised low prices can be effectively communicated to shoppers.

Another major retailer, Maxima, has similarly disagreed with PTAC's assessments, claiming that there have only been a few instances this year where items were missing from the low price basket. This ongoing debate highlights the complexities and challenges in ensuring that food retailers can offer consistent low-priced options while also managing supply issues and maintaining standards set by regulatory bodies. The implications of this are vital for consumer satisfaction and overall market dynamics in Latvia’s grocery sector.