John Swinney is “absolutely convinced” his plans to introduce a price cap on essential foods are a “good idea”, the First Minister’s official spokesman has said.
He said the SNP leader remains committed to the controversial price controls despite the backlash from business groups.
The proposals have been criticised by business leaders who have warned they could backfire and push up prices.
A spokesman for the First Minister said the Government was taking forward a policy that was part of the manifesto “on which we won the election”.
Mr Swinney promised to use devolved powers to compel supermarkets to limit the cost of bread, milk, cheese, and other staple items to ease the cost of living.
His spokesman told reporters, on Tuesday, that he was “not aware of any changes” to the timetable for introducing the cap – with Mr Swinney saying in April he hoped legislation could be passed by the end of this year.
“The consultation started today and we will obviously be taking forward a range of views from a range of stakeholders,” his spokesman said.
“But the starting point being that food price inflation is very high and we want people to get access to affordable, nutritious food.”
He said which products would be covered by the cap was part of the consultation.
He added: “We’re absolutely convinced it is a good idea. It was one of the biggest, if not the biggest issue in the election on the doors.
“What people were talking about was the cost of essentials, including food.
“We put forward this proposal in the election and people elected the Government with this policy, so we are taking forward that commitment.”
Food price caps will not address the underlying causes of food inflation.
The Food and Drink Federation Scotland said the plan was causing “major concern” across Scotland’s food and drink supply chain.
“Businesses that make food and drink in Scotland are increasingly questioning whether the Scottish Government understands, or cares, about the pressures they face and the contribution they make to Scotland’s economy,” chief executive David Thomson said.
“Food price caps will not address the underlying causes of food inflation. Food and drink manufacturers continue to face high energy, labour, commodity, packaging and regulatory costs.
“Capping the shelf price of selected products does nothing to remove those costs and will simply push them elsewhere.
“The Scottish Government must listen to the evidence, recognise the risks and drop its plans for food price caps. Instead, ministers should focus on tackling the real drivers of food inflation and creating the conditions for long-term affordability, investment and growth.”
The public consultation on the policy was published on Tuesday and will run until November 24.
Business minister Tom Arthur said helping Scots with the cost of living was a “key priority” for the Government as it aims to make the weekly shop more affordable.
But business groups warned the policy could drive up prices.
In a letter to the FM, groups representing retail, hospitality, and manufacturing and distribution firms in Scotland, said: “We jointly believe the mooted statutory food price cap is unnecessary, ineffective, and likely to deliver significant adverse consequences.
“This is despite the assurances you have sought to provide to primary producers.
“The impacts upon retailers, food and drink producers, and shopworkers in themselves are undesirable but the effect will be to increase, rather than decrease, the cost of household goods.”
Scottish Labour MSP Daniel Johnson called the move a “poorly thought-out” “political stunt”.
He said Scots “cannot afford to see another botched policy which ends up being challenged in the Supreme Court”.
“They must set out concrete plans to put more money back into people’s pockets and help working families in the here and now,” he added.
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur said retailers and farmers have already warned the plan could lead to job losses.
He said: “The SNP loves populist policy ideas which sound plausible and then backfire horribly.”