At Vänsterpartiet's congress in Örebro, leader Nooshi Dadgostar attacked food giants, calling them 'fat cats' robbing Swedish households. Ica retailers' chairman Mikael Norling condemns the statement as unfair. Dadgostar also demands Vänsterpartiet join the next government.
Vänsterpartiet's congress in Örebro opened on April 17 with leader Nooshi Dadgostar's speech. She sharply criticized grocery giants, stating: “For too long, Sweden has had an elite enriching itself by taking what is ours and selling it back to us expensively.” The companies have become “fat cats” making big profits while food prices are high and households struggle, according to Dadgostar.
Mikael Norling, chairman of Ica-handlarnas förbund, attended the congress for dialogue. He reacted immediately to Dadgostar's words: “Fat cats. Well, that says it all. It's a very strange and unfair statement.” Norling stresses that not all stores make big money and the industry is not easy. Profit levels are normal, he says.
Dadgostar linked the criticism to broader policy. She claimed that if Vänsterpartiet had ministers in previous S-governments, privatizations would have been avoided, railways would function better, and more housing built. “We would not have had privatizations and deregulations of all our important utilities,” she said. The party now demands cabinet posts to support Magdalena Andersson.
Ica retailers exhibited at the congress to present their view of the industry, especially ahead of the election year when food prices and competition are hot topics.
