The consumer association Efektiva has called on citizens of Serbia to launch a new boycott of the retail chain “Delez,” after the company filed a lawsuit against the state over what it claims are restrictions on margins and business policies affecting the prices of basic foodstuffs.
As announced, “Delez” is the largest retail chain in Serbia, with the highest number of stores and the largest revenues on the market. According to data presented by Efektiva, during 2023 and 2024 the company recorded profits of around 130 million euros, alongside a margin increase of as much as 48 percent.
The association assesses that the lawsuit against the state represents direct pressure on institutions and an attempt to protect profits at the expense of citizens, at a time when a large part of the population is facing a drastic rise in food prices and a decline in living standards.
“The call for a boycott is not a continuation of last year’s fight for lower food prices in Serbia, but a new way to draw attention to the behavior of retail chains and to protect competition, as well as the interests of consumers,” the statement reads.
Efektiva emphasizes that Delez’s lawsuit against the state essentially represents a lawsuit against the citizens of Serbia, because, as they claim, the company’s demands relate to preserving high margins and profits, while the burden of such a policy falls on consumers.
“While other retailers remain silent and do not exert constant pressure on the state, ‘Delez’ has chosen to defend its interests through the courts, ignoring the social reality in which citizens live,” the statement adds.
The association said that consumers must react and show that they do not agree with such an approach to the market and the state, stressing that a boycott is a legitimate and democratic form of pressure in defense of citizens’ rights.
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Source: Politika, Foto: Pixabay