Angered by the continued rise in prices, citizens of several Western Balkan countries were invited to boycott purchases at several large grocery stores on January 31st.
The initiative was first launched in Croatia on January 24, and resulted in a drop of more than 50% in sales across the country.
Following a call from consumer representatives, Croatians launched a similar action on January 30, but it will last a week.
Several large retail chains are being targeted by the boycott, due to suspicions that their prices do not match those in other EU countries.
Calls for similar boycotts - mainly on social media - were also made in other Western Balkan countries.
They received positive responses in Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia.
No organized action is expected in Kosovo and Albania.
This, despite the fact that food prices in Kosovo have been increasing in recent years.
In North Macedonia, Sasho Ristoski says rising prices are making life difficult, especially for pensioners and low-income families.
"Yes, yes, I heard about the boycott and I will support it, because the prices are too high. With these prices that the markets have set, you can't survive," this Skopje resident tells Radio Free Europe.
According to him, basic products, which are in the highest demand, are among the most expensive.
"Almost all meat products, milk, oil, sugar... We, with lower incomes, can barely make it through the month," the pensioner adds.
"I will boycott the markets if I don't have money, but if I need bread, I will go buy it," says Lile Silanovska, also from Skopje.
According to Business Network analysis, the seven largest market chains in North Macedonia generated revenue of 930 million euros during 2023.
At the top of the list is Vero, which recorded profits of over 10 million euros - an increase of almost 13% compared to the previous year. In second place was Kam Market with net profits of 7.3 million euros. Among the most profitable companies is also Kipper, with 5.5 million euros in profit, followed by Stokomak with a profit of 4 million euros.
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, warned on January 29 of strict controls and sanctions for supermarkets that violate the Law on Product Prices.
"During the press conference, two supermarket chains were mentioned, which may play games with laws and procedures. They will be subject to rigorous control," said Mickoski.
The authorities also expressed support for the boycott of large stores, describing it as a clear signal of citizens' dissatisfaction with the economic situation in the country.
"We support citizens in boycotting, above all, markets that, in recent years, have extremely increased product prices without any economic logic," said North Macedonia's Minister of Economy and Labor, Besar Durmishi.
"We, as the Minister of Economy and Labor, have adopted measures to protect the standard of living of citizens, by freezing the margin of basic food products, so that it does not lead to enormous price increases," he added.
But, a citizen of Tetovo disagrees with this.
"The government supporting boycotts of businesses is a scandal. It should take measures, it should provide subsidies - if necessary - to citizens. Salaries should increase, the standard should increase, of course there is inflation in North Macedonia too. Boycotting is not a solution. Absolutely, I am not for boycotting businesses, they have workers, workers have families," says a 32-year-old, who will not be identified by name.
In North Macedonia, there is a Law on Unfair Commercial Practices, which entered into force on September 28 last year, when it was the deadline for traders to harmonize supply contracts between suppliers and manufacturers. Rebates and other marketing expenses are limited to 10%, while, according to the practice until then, they have been from 20% to 35%.
The Ministry of Economy and Labor says that this has indirectly increased the retail prices of products.
The rebate, which is the difference between the purchase price and the selling price set by the manufacturer, is intended to protect manufacturers from uncontrolled price increases by traders.
In cases where the retail price is marked on the product packaging, traders should not increase it.
However, practice shows otherwise. Due to the weaker position of producers to react, traders, in addition to the rebate, also impose a margin.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce of Northwestern Macedonia, Mendi Qyra, tells Radio Free Europe that prices have fluctuated in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
He notes that these factors have made a big difference in the market, creating ground for "price abuse".
"Of course, there are companies that have acted correctly. But it cannot yet be said that the price market is stable, so it is necessary to take adequate measures to regulate them, especially for basic daily products," says Qyra.
He emphasizes the need for further measures to regulate the market and balance the prices of basic products.
"This is an issue that institutions must deal with, as our measures are voluntary and we have no mechanisms to force members, markets or distributors to keep prices real. However, with a common agreement, we can achieve a fairer balance," concludes Qyra.
Many citizens, non-governmental and labor organizations in Montenegro called for a boycott of large retail chains on January 31, due to what they said were extremely high prices for basic foods.
"Don't buy anything that day, so that together we can send a strong message to merchants," reads one of the initiatives, which was shared on social media earlier this week.
Among the first to support this action in Montenegro was Prime Minister Milojko Spajic.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Nik Gjeloshaj, suggested that the boycott not include domestic producers.
The action was opposed by the Chamber of Commerce, whose members are chain store owners, while the large chains did not comment.
In Montenegro, inflation from 2021 to 2024 was 30.5 percent, while food prices rose by up to 41 percent, according to data from the Statistical Office in this country.
On the other hand, retail chains, judging by tax returns, recorded a 40 to 50 percent increase in turnover in 2023, compared to 2021.
Most citizens Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spoke with in Podgorica say that current prices are unaffordable.
Although she agrees with the boycott, Ana is not sure that a protest alone will bring the desired result.
"It has become an untenable situation. Boycotting may be the first step, but only frequent protests can have a real impact," she said.
Bojani is one of those who will not participate in the action, due to the fact that, as he says, he is supported by the prime minister.
"He [Spajić] is admitting that the state is powerless. I don't believe anything the prime minister says," says Bojani.
Prime Minister Spajic said he understands citizens who will boycott purchases.
"A state is as powerful as its citizens are free and powerful," Spajic wrote on the X network.
Apparently, Spajic does not understand that he is the prime minister and that it is his responsibility to solve the inflation problem, said the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
"You cannot achieve this with populist boycotts, but with serious economic policy," said the DPS.
The day before the boycott, Spajic's government decided to continue the "Limited Prices" campaign, which envisages fixing the prices of certain products - meaning that traders cannot increase them.
But the Union of Free Trade Unions in Montenegro considers that the price limits are not sufficient, so it called on its members to participate in the boycott on January 31.
Following the successful action in Croatia, calls have also been distributed on social media in Bosnia and Herzegovina to boycott shops, gas stations, cafes and restaurants on January 31st.
"This is a way to show our dissatisfaction with the increase in food and energy prices, while citizens' salaries remain low," reads one of the messages shared on social media.
Similar calls for a supermarket boycott on January 31 were also made in Serbia.
In Slovenia, meanwhile, a shopping boycott is underway in several shopping malls and supermarkets.
The action is reported to last until February 2. REL (A2 Televizion)
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