Price Check Platform to Track 30 Basic Foods
Food shops will have nowhere to hide their prices under a new government website that will let families compare the cost of 30 basic goods each morning.
The Industry and Commerce Ministry plans to publish prices from supermarkets, hypermarkets and other stores across Bahrain, allowing shoppers to see which outlet sells each item for less.
The first batch will be chosen from basic foods charged at a zero rate of value added tax.
Stores covered by the scheme will have to register, enter their prices and renew them every morning. Shoppers can then search for an item and check its cost at several outlets in seconds.
The move is meant to spare families from visiting shops or scouring separate offers before deciding where to buy.
It will also expose sharp price gaps, old listings and unexplained rises, while putting pressure on sellers to keep costs in check.
Ministry staff will use the figures to track changes in food prices, watch for gaps between shops and ensure sellers publish clear and up-to-date figures.
The scheme comes as the ministry makes greater use of online tools to help households spend less and monitor the supply and cost of basic food.
Folk Shows, Catering Get Digital Licence Access
Meanwhile, Traditional catering and Bahraini folk performances can now operate without a shop or office under an expansion of the kingdom’s virtual business registration system.
This addition brings the number of activities allowed through virtual commercial premises to 73, letting eligible operators offer Bahraini hospitality services, local food for events and traditional live shows without leasing commercial space.
The businesses will be able to operate through the Sijili virtual registration system, subject to its licensing rules.
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