Bulgaria's consumer protection commission (KZP) has reported big retail chains to the competition watchdog (KZK). KZP says its checks found breaches of the Law on the Protection of Competition.
The report came a day after a Tuesday briefing, where KZP chair Maya Manolova announced 11 cases against chains over higher prices for cheese, milk, tomatoes, cucumbers and other basic goods.
The background: Consumer watchdog opens 11 cases against supermarket chains over higher prices of basic foods
A markup is the amount a shop adds to the price it pays its supplier. KZP checks show that in various outlets of some big chains, markups on similar goods in the same category depend on the producer. The goods are dairy products, fruit and vegetables. The report does not name the chains.
A gap of more than 10% in markups is a breach, because the law bans discrimination against trading partners. The breach falls under point "b" of item 25 in paragraph 1 of Article 37b of the Law on the Protection of Competition.
The penalty can reach 10% of a chain's turnover, Manolova told reporters.
KZP said it sent the report because the law requires it to tell the relevant specialist bodies when it finds breaches of other rules.
In the 11 cases, KZP is comparing October prices with August prices. The chains can show that a price rise is justified.