I received a call as we went to print last week from a representative of one of the retailers operating here. The intuitive individual had gotten wind of a story regarding retailers giving a group of politicians a commitment they would not partake in below-cost selling of fruit and vegetables this Christmas.

Last year, the IFA protested at approximately 50 retail outlets in the run-up to Christmas as some retailers were selling vegetables for as little as 5c.

The retailer’s representative said below-cost selling happens every day, but they had agreed not to sell vegetables at a “very, very” low cost. I was left scratching my head over that one.