Officials at the Ministry of Commerce, especially the Consumer Protection Service, think e-kalathi has done a great job helping consumers. They plan to improve the app to make it an even better information tool.
Reports say about 1,000 new products will be added by early 2026, in both existing and new categories. This will bring the total number of products on e-kalathi to 1,500, giving a broader market overview, according to the Service.
The Director of the Consumer Protection Service, Konstantinos Karagiorgis, told Phileleftheros that their mission is to protect citizens’ interests. He noted that e-kalathi is already a key tool for comparing prices and making better purchases while boosting competition for Cypriot consumers.
He also addressed retailers’ claims that the tool has failed. He emphasized that evaluations show the opposite: about 20,000 users have installed the app, and prices of covered products remain low.
Last week, there was a meeting between the Service and suppliers and retailers about e-kalathi’s progress and the discount guide. The announcement of upcoming upgrades led to reactions from retailers who argued that the platform isn’t working well.
Retailers’ Reactions
The General Secretary of PASYLE, Marios Antoniou, said the platform “did not deliver as expected,” adding costs and causing disruptions in the sector. He pointed out that consumers are already informed by online stores, websites, and social media from supermarkets, claiming price transparency already exists.
The sector strongly opposed including fresh products. Sources say their inclusion is not being considered right now due to quality concerns, while only common packaged products are being looked into.
The Greek Example
Meanwhile, reports from Greece say the Ministry of Development is completely revamping the e-Consumer platform. By order of Minister Takis Theodorikakos, the platform will be redesigned for better comparison tools and more transparency. The new version, expected in 6–7 months, will act as a “price radar” for both Greece and abroad with features like comparing prices between Greek and foreign chains.
