Demand for a hike in grocery bags from retailers

The Turkish Retail Federation (TPF) demanded that the price of shopping bags sold from 25 cents be increased to 75 cents.

Speaking to Sozcu.com.tr, TPF President Ömer Duzgun said that the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change asked them for their opinion and that they made the request to prevent environmental pollution.

‘USED AS GARBAGE BAGS’

“Consumers can put a product that fits in a bag into three bags,” Doğru said, “Well, because it’s cheap. Since garbage bags on the shelf are expensive, the grocery bag was later used as a grocery bag.” garbage at home.

Duzgun also informed citizens that they paid 29 cents to the government for a supermarket bag, which sold for 25 cents, and that the cost of a bag could start at 55-60 cents on average and go up to 1 TL.

EXPLANATION OF THE CHAIN ​​MARKET

On the other hand, Duzgun also made statements regarding the chain market discussion that has been on the agenda recently:

Making a written statement on the subject, Düz said: “Immediate action must be taken against the monopolization of on-chain markets.”

Duzgun stated that the discount markets sector’s share of food retail, which is 79 percent, is expected to reach 81 percent, adding: “Discount markets are on the way to monopolization. Immediate action must be taken against this trend with the Retail Trade Law,” he said.

‘There is no competition, there is monopolization’

Duzgun pointed out that there is no competition due to the lack of legs in the Retail Trade Law, there is a monopoly in the sector and local operators and merchants are dragged into a difficult situation.

Noting that they have been sharing their suggestions on shortcomings in the Retail Law and precautions to be taken for about 10 years, Düz said:

“We have pointed out that since 2015, store openings in discount markets are heading towards monopolization. In the last 10 years, the number of stores reached 42,000 with an increase of 395 percent. When we add 128,000 grocery stores, 5,600 gas stations, 27,000 kiosks and other points, we find ourselves facing tremendous store inflation.

While there is a market for 400-500 people in Turkey, this figure stands out as 3-3,500 in Europe. More than 13,000 new markets are expected to open in the next 5 years. The share of discount (chain) markets, which has an industry share of 79 percent in food retail today, is forecast to reach 81 percent. Discount markets are moving rapidly towards monopoly. Immediate action must be taken against this trend with the Retail Trade Law.”

‘IT WILL HURT BUSINESSES AND THE CONSUMER’

Duzgun affirmed that local chains are not against competition and that the local producer and local retailer are the insurance and guarantee of the food industry, and made the following assessments:

“We employ not 3 to 5 but 20 to 25 fellow citizens in one of our stores. The number of our employment in our 5,000 stores has exceeded 100,000. The continuation of store openings in this way means that market openings will continue in the next period, one after another, one after another. This situation will harm not only the operators of the food retail business, but also the producer and the consumer.”

TIME EXPLANATION: WE ARE THE LAST RING IN THE CHAIN

Duzgun, referring to the price increases, said: “We are the last link in the chain. We bring the product we buy from the manufacturer to our citizens. We have clashed with our customers more than ever in the last 2 years regarding price increases that were not caused by us.”

Indicating that they will not be able to raise prices unfairly against the chain’s markets, Düzgün pointed out that there are at least 5,000 types of products in local markets, and that it is possible to find the same product from different brands.

Duzgun, with the Retail Law, called for 2-3 different brand products to be listed on chain markets as an alternative to “private label” products.

‘WE DO NOT ACCEPT OBJECTIVE EXPLANATIONS TO THE POLICY’

TPF President Duzgun said that they never and will not accept statements directed at politics and the state, saying:

“The attitude shown has annoyed and offended us and our citizens. We must focus on the measures that will increase the purchasing power of our citizens, the problems of our sector, the added value that we will give to our country, and implement the projects.

We will oppose such statements in the future as we do today. As local chains, we always stand behind our state and our nation. We are ready to find solutions to our industry’s problems together.”