After the boycott of major retail chains in Serbia on Friday, January 31, the Consumer Protection Association Efektiva has called on citizens for a new, longer boycott. This one, they say, will last five days—from Monday, February 10, to Friday, February 14, reports Euronews Serbia.
Efektiva has urged consumers to avoid shopping at five major retail chains during this period: Delhaize (which owns “Maxi” and “Shop&Go”), Mercator (“Idea” and “Roda”), as well as “DIS,” “Lidl,” and “Univerexport.”
Dejan Gavrilović from Efektiva stressed the importance of consistency, urging consumers to refrain from shopping at these stores. He also revealed that while sales dropped by about 37% during the previous one-day boycott, some chains responded by raising prices on certain products.
This prompted the decision to extend the boycott to five days. However, Gavrilović noted that the strategy is still evolving and that further steps will be determined after evaluating the results.
What Can Consumers Achieve, and What Comes Next?
Gavrilović believes that only through persistent and collective action can consumers force retailers to reconsider their pricing.
He emphasized that food prices in Serbia are among the highest in Europe, while average wages in Slovenia and Croatia—countries with similar economic conditions—are €500 to €700 higher.
“If we are not ready to say ‘enough’ to this high-price policy, retailers will continue with such practices,” Gavrilović warned, urging citizens to demand fair and reasonable prices, instead of relying on occasional discounts.
He clarified that the boycott does not mean completely stopping purchases but rather avoiding large retail chains. He encouraged consumers to seek alternatives such as small local stores, markets, and specialized shops, which may offer lower prices.
According to Gavrilović, these alternatives can significantly reduce the dominance of large chains and provide consumers with more affordable options.
He also stated that if prices do not decrease, the next step could be a targeted boycott of individual chains, with each boycott lasting about ten days per retailer.
The goal, he explained, is to force retailers to adjust their prices since their profit margins have doubled in the past year, despite a drop in sales volume.
“If consumers remain persistent, I am sure retailers will realize they cannot win this ‘war.’ They will have to adjust their prices,” Gavrilović concluded.
While the exact results are difficult to predict, Gavrilović is confident that if citizens stay committed and boycott major chains, the action will yield results—just as it did in other countries, such as Croatia.
He stressed that it is crucial for consumers to stay united and determined to send a clear message to retailers: high prices are unacceptable.
PROČITAJTE VIŠE:
How Did the Previous Boycott Go?
Serbia’s Tax Administration released data on the number of fiscal receipts issued on January 31, the day of Efektiva’s one-day boycott of five retail chains.
According to the data, on Friday, January 31, 2025, 292,227 fewer fiscal receipts were issued compared to the previous day, Thursday, January 30, 2025.
- Friday, January 31, 2025: 865,758 receipts issued
- Thursday, January 30, 2025: 1,157,985 receipts issued
For comparison:
- Friday, January 17, 2025: 1,103,159 receipts issued
- Thursday, January 16, 2025: 1,095,561 receipts issued
The Tax Administration clarified that the data is cumulative, as per Article 7 of the Tax Procedure and Tax Administration Act.
The Boycott Movement Spreads Across the Region
The movement started in Croatia, where the first boycott was held on Friday, January 24. It then quickly spread to Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.
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Source: Euronews, Foto: Euronews