Filipović with representatives of retail chains about white lists

On Monday, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Davor Filipović, spoke with representatives of the Konzum, KTC and Tommy retail chains about the rise in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages and the formation of instruments that will provide consumers with a price comparability mechanism, the so-called white lists.

As reported by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, Minister Davor Filipović met with representatives of the shopping chains Konzum, KTC and Tommy, who responded to the call for cooperation with the aim of protecting consumers from unjustified price increases.

Filipović emphasized that the Government is doing everything to protect the standard of Croatian citizens. Topics of discussion with the representatives of retail chains included the increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as the formation of instruments that will provide consumers with a mechanism for comparability of price movements, so-called white lists.

Inflation in December amounted to 13.1 percent, and when you look at its structure, you can see that it is most affected by the increase in the prices of food and soft drinks, according to the Ministry.

Filipović recalled that the Government intervened because the market was not functioning. “We solved the price of electricity, we control the price of fuel, the price of gas has returned to a stable level as a result of the agreement at the European level. What I expect in the coming period is the reduction of retail prices by those merchants who unjustifiably raised them. It is incomprehensible that part of the retail chains did not respond to the call for cooperation, while at the same time they use the incentives and measures made possible by the Government of the Republic of Croatia,” said Filipović.

In this context, the minister especially thanked the shopping chains Konzum, KTC and Tommy, who recognized the importance of the moment and provided the ministry with all the requested information, and emphasized the importance of joint cooperation for the benefit of Croatian citizens and consumers.

A website is in the process of being created, which will contain data on price trends, which will enable consumers to have a transparent insight into prices, which will be easily accessible and comparable on the Ministry's website. It is a high-quality instrument, where those who have joined the Code of Ethics will have the opportunity to clearly and transparently show the prices, emphasized the press release after their meeting.

At the meeting, the further cooperation of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the shopping chains Konzum, KTC and Tommy was confirmed, which will be intensified in the next period, and other shopping chains are invited to join, the press release concludes.

Source: HRT