They assure that there are no updates outside of Fair Prices or lack of stock in supermarkets. However, the disparity in neighborhood businesses increases.
The Secretariat of Trade denied to Ambit the recent versions that warn for markings in supermarkets and warehouses up to 35% and possible shortages in essential products. In any case, a private report highlights that, as a result of price dispersion, consumption in neighborhood stores fell, while in super or hypermarkets it grew significantly.
Rumors about an increase in shelves outside of Fair Prices caught the attention of the Government, more precisely when an alleged preventive notice from a major soft drink brand about a 35% increase after Sunday’s elections became known. From the area commanded by Matias Tombolini They assured that they did not detect such information, although they will continue to monitor. “On October 15, the monthly 5% path on Fair Price products was renewed and no higher increases have been reported.”affirms the Secretariat for now.
In turn, the Commerce official’s circle heard that businesses had received updates on the lists of between 20% and 30% and that deliveries to supermarkets were being reduced. In dialogue with Ámbito, from the Chamber of Commerce (CAC), the source to whom the data was attributed, clarified that it was a confusion generated by the mixture of two elements. The first, a statement from Natalio Mario Grinman, head of the entity, in which he states that “there are many who took the full four days (of the holiday) and that is an indication of not wanting to sell and take advantage of the circumstance of the four days to safeguard stock.” The second, surveys from the Historial de Precios and Precialo sites, which indicated increases of more than 30% in some products.
The confusion generated the need for the Secretariat to affirm that “both in the calls that have been made with the industry and with businesses acceptable supply levels are being detected”. In addition, they assured that supermarkets “report that scheduled delivery schedules are being met.” At the same time, they highlight that in the case of products “that present compliance challenges” – due to high demand or delivery below what is required – Supermarkets “complete their shelves with second brands, without leaving the category empty.”
On this point, an important Argentine food company confirms that in the super or hypermarket and wholesale channels the Fair Prices program continues to be respected, although “new products that are launched have new costs and prices.” “Nothing came from here,” adds a representative of a dairy sales company. “On our side we are supplying normally,” they say from a brewery. However, they present complaints regarding the behavior in the local shopsbecause over there “The prices are free and companies deliver at the prices they have to deliver”, although they understand that the lack of control and application of the pricing program is a fundamental explanatory factor. They also place responsibility on distributors, who “emphasize what they consider appropriate for their profitability in businesses where the products are not purchased directly.”
This is the main problem that the consulting firm detected Scentia in August: product of the extensive dispersion of prices, the Consumption in warehouses and neighborhood businesses fell 3.2% year-on-year, while in the AMBA the decline deepened to 21.6%. On the contrary, sales in supermarkets they grew 14.1% nationally in the same period, while in the AMBA it was close to a 12% increase. The items that led the increase throughout the country are Alcoholic Beverages (20.1%), Hygiene and Cosmetics (19.2%), Food (17%). Except for food consumption, the other two items showed a contrary performance in neighborhood businesses.
Source: Ambito
