The Consumer Protection Commission will look into complaints against supermarket chains taking part in the "Basket of Care" scheme. Deputy prime minister and economy minister Alexander Pulev told parliament's economic policy committee that the complaints accuse the chains of pushing the cost of the discounts onto small producers. Pulev said he has already passed the complaints on to the watchdogs in charge.
The minister said this looks like a form of pressure: the chains want the discounts covered by paying small businesses lower prices for their goods. "They want to make a profit at the expense of small businesses," he said.
Pulev said he too sees no results from the scheme. On his visits to shops, he found neither a dedicated shelf nor clearly marked goods. "As a consumer, I'd say this scheme isn't meeting the goals we set," he added.
Under the scheme, the big supermarket chains had pledged discounts of 15% to 65%.
If it turns out the chains are using their talks with the government while breaking their promises and profiting at the expense of small firms, that's the wrong way to go, Pulev added.