Significant changes in the diet of Greeks in the last decade in terms of spending and consumption is demonstrated by research from the Consumer Goods Retail Research Institute (IELKA).

According to the results of the analysis, the per capita spending on groceries was 1,825 euros in 2022, reduced by 5.8% compared to 2009, the year before the start of the first financial crisis.

In relation to 2021, the total expenditure on groceries increased by 3.10%, which is attributed, according to IELKA, to the combination of price increases and the reduction in the volume of household purchases.

Based on these figures, it is estimated that the total expenditure of Greeks on groceries in 2022 amounts to 20.28 billion euros (against 22.10 billion euros in 2009). This amount includes only the expenditure of Greek consumers (e.g. not the expenditure through Ho.Re.Ca., tourism, catering, etc.) and concerns only groceries (e.g. other items that are not included found in supermarket stores such as stationery, pet supplies, baby milk, bazaar items, cosmetics, tobacco, etc.).

The research records the changes in monetary expenditure per capita by category in the period 2009-2022 as well as the changes in the quantities purchased and consumed.

Specifically, the monthly monetary expenditure figures show: an increase in shopping expenditure on basic carbohydrate sources, indicatively a 12% increase in expenditure on bread and bakery items.

They also show reduction of expenditure on protein sources, (indicative veal meat reduction 18% and sheep and goat meat 40% reduction), reduction of expenditure on dairy products (indicative fresh milk with a 30% reduction), reduction of expenditure on olive oil 17%, reduction of expenditure on fruit 7 %, for vegetables 43%, but an increase in legumes by 44% and in nuts by 48%. There is a decrease in spending on non-alcoholic beverages by 9%, but an increase in spending on alcoholic beverages by 68%.

Even more interesting are the figures of monthly consumption in quantities which record large changes now in terms of nutrition. Specifically, a steady trend is recorded in the main sources of carbohydrates with monthly per capita consumption of bread and bakery items decreasing by 6% to around 4 kg per month. Also, a reduction in the consumption of basic animal proteins by about 16%, with about 1 kg less meat per month with the exception of poultry which shows an increase (after all, it is a more economical solution). There is an increase in vegetable proteins and especially legumes.

At the same time, a decrease is recorded in dairy products and especially in fresh milk by 41% with the exception of low-fat milk and eggs, a decrease in olive oil consumption by approximately 30%, a decrease in fresh fruits and vegetables by approximately 15% with a decrease by 1kg less per month in both fruit and vegetables, but this is partly attributable to the food waste of the 2000s. There is also a decrease for non-alcoholic drinks with around 1 liter less soft drinks per month per capita, but an increase for alcoholic beverages, which is however related to greater consumption at home compared to consumption in restaurants.

In terms of the average price paid by the consumer in 2022 compared to 2009, according to the survey, the biggest increases are recorded in nuts by 61%, in lettuce by 64% and in coffee by 54%, ewhile the biggest decreases are recorded in preserved milk (-18%), mineral waters (-30%) and poultry (-4%).

It is noted that in recent years, the coverage of household needs from own production, which usually concerns rural areas, has decreased significantly with the exception of individual products and mainly olive oil.