DISCHEM ABUSES THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY WITH A 40% INCREASE IN THE PRICE OF DISCHEM SOFTI DIAPERS

In the past 6 months, the price of Dischem's generic brand (SOFTI) of adult diapers for the elderly and disabled has increased from R109 to R149 per pack of 14. Almost 40%. The price of the imported luxury men's after shave I purchase regularly, has increased with about 5% in the last 12 months. Generic brands are normally of a worse quality (we throw at least 1 of the 14 SOFTI diapers in a pack away) and not a lot of money is spent on improving the quality. This is also the case with Dischem's SOFTI brand. Seeing that my daughter's SASSA has only increased with R40 (2%), how can Dischem justify the 40% increase in the price of adult diapers? Well, to be exact, it is only 36.7% - measured over six months. South Africa's inflation (CPI-X) is currently at about 5%. Are the elderly and disabled abused financially just to substitute other expensive brands carried by Dischem? With an honours degree in Marketing, I do understand pricing strategies. I also understand that loadshedding is blamed for everything (although it is used only as an EXCUSE and not a TRUE REASON by most companies). I spend about R 5000 with Dischem a month and buy SOFTI diapers because it is convenient to do my shopping all at once at Dischem. But, with Clicks' regular promotion of 3 for the price of 1, I may have to take a second trip to Clicks and but their generic brand. Still, I would like the Marketing or Procurement Director of Dischem to explain the 40% price hike to me.