But let me emphasize the need for competition
What I described above assumes a competitive free market. If a market is not competitive then these kinds of high prices will persist. Monopolies and cartels, while unstable in the long run, can milk the consummers for a very long time. And certainly there is a concentration of control in the food industry where about four massive companies control 85% of the market. I agree with you on that point completely. I just think it's important to differenciate what S&D looks like in a competitive marketplace vs one that allows one or a few big players to collaborate on price gouging.