UK retailer The Co-operative has announced its plans to cut the cost of women's sanitary products to cover the country's so-called 'tampon tax'.
A 5% reduction in price will come into effect on 30 August, ahead of government proposals to remove the value-added tax that is currently applied to sanitary products.
All 71 private label and branded products sold by the Co-op will receive this price cut.
“As a community retailer we feel it’s important to do right by our customers," said Andy Phelps, director of trading at Co-op. "That’s why we are covering the cost of the five per cent VAT on sanitary products for women who shop with us.”
Essential Products
At the end of July, Tesco became the first UK retailer to take action on the 'tampon tax', reducing the price of nearly 100 private label and branded feminine hygiene products by 5%.
“For many of our customers, tampons, panty liners and sanitary towels are essential products," said Michelle McEttrick, Tesco group brand director. “However, the cost of buying them every month can add up, and for many women and girls it can be a real struggle on top of other essential items."
Supermarket chain Waitrose followed suit with a similar move earlier this month.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
