On Thursday, June 12, two years after the relevant bill was passed, Cyprus officially launched e-Kalathi, a state-run digital platform. Designed to make the retail market more transparent and protect consumer rights, the innovative online service provides residents with a simple and convenient tool for comparing the prices of everyday goods in various supermarkets. It also encourages fair price competition among retailers.
The platform is available as both a website and a mobile app for smartphones. The interface is simple and intuitive. Users can track the prices and availability of popular products in Cyprus's largest retail chains in real time, both nationwide and in specific regions.
e-Kalathi functionality:
- It brings together 167 supermarkets from 22 retail chains, each with an annual turnover of more than €5 million.
- At launch, the system covered 478 product names, grouped into 20 categories ranging from bread and dairy products to baby food, hygiene products, canned goods, and pet food.
- Each product is displayed with a photo, minimum price, and place of sale.
- Clicking on a product provides a detailed list of all the stores where it is available, including addresses, contact details, and current prices.
- For added convenience, there are filters by geographical location. You can select the region you are interested in and see where in the area the purchase will be cheapest.
By registering on the platform, users can create personalized shopping carts, compare prices at different stores, and track price changes over time.
This is especially convenient for families looking to optimize their spending as well as for seniors and people with limited mobility. According to the Cypriot government, the project will continue to expand. Plans include adding new product categories, increasing the number of participating supermarkets, and introducing additional features, such as discount notifications, price history, and shopping lists.
User feedback will guide the development to make the service as useful and tailored to the population's needs as possible. The Ministry of Energy, Trade, and Industry states that the launch of e-Kalathi raises consumer awareness and puts indirect pressure on retail chains to keep prices competitive. This is particularly important during periods of inflation and rising living costs when even small savings can significantly impact the family budget.
E-Kalathi represents a step forward in the digitalization of public services and the practical implementation of government policy aimed at protecting consumer interests, combating price speculation, and increasing the transparency of market processes.