Bulgaria launches checks on food pricing at retail chains

Bulgarian authorities began inspecting retail chains’ central warehouses on Wednesday as part of an investigation into food pricing and supply chains, Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski said.

The inspections will extend next week to stores, suppliers, producers and middlemen to establish how food is sourced and prices are set. “The aim is to find out who supplies what, how and from where, and why certain foods are preferred over others,” Abrovski said.

Maya Manolova, chair of Bulgaria’s Commission for Consumer Protection, said its inspections had found retail mark-ups of around 100% or more on some food products. She cited mark-ups of nearly 140% on butter and nearly 100% on some white brined and yellow cheeses, and said mark-ups in European countries were no higher than around 25–35%.

The Modern Trade Association, which represents 13 retail chains in Bulgaria, denied the claim.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova