Supermarkets in different parts of the country affiliated with CAS and FASA announced a basket of 20 products with a 20% discount. The large chains consider that it is a non-specific initiative and prefer, for the moment, to continue with their own promotions. Commerce supported the agreement and assured that it will maintain the SEPA price monitoring system.
Product of the flash of the inflation and the price dispersion, The Red Súper Argentinos organization announced the application of a 20% discount on 20 products in the basic basket. The agreement, which will last 60 days, will take effect starting this Wednesday. However, the initiative of supermarkets with a greater presence at the provincial level is far from the view of the large chains: “The proposal is not serious,” they say from the sector.
“Differentiated prices”is the name of the program that the CAS and FASA entities intend to carry out in a context of constant highlighting and open discussions with suppliers. The initiative was endorsed by the Ministry of Commerce, directed by Pablo Lavigne. “We talked about the fact that it would be good to have products that, with a reference price, accompany consumers and supermarkets maintain closeness with their customers,” the entity commented. However, they highlighted that This is a “voluntary and unilateral” agreement. since “no regulation will be published creating a price program under these macroeconomic conditions.” The percentage of reduction was defined outside that meeting, where the Undersecretary of Consumer Defense and Commercial Loyalty, in charge of Domestic Trade, Fernando Blanco Muiño, was also present.
The large chains raise differences regarding the agreement
However, The large chains raise differences regarding the agreement. The argument is that the program raises doubts due to the lack of precision in the advertisement about which particular products would be included in the basket and that, in addition, each supermarket already carries out its own promotions. “It has nothing to do with what we are doing and we also found out through a statement,” said a supermarket owner in conversation with Ambit. In the sector, They consider it “unserious” to announce a discount “on unspecified prices available at unspecified outlets.”
The basket proposed by the provincial supermarkets grouped in CAS-FASA is made up of sugar, grass, noodles, flour, oil, crackers, sweet crackers, eggs, milk, bread, legumes (peas/lentils), tomato puree, sweet milk, soft drinks, tea and cooked mate. Also for personal care products such as toilet paper and soap, and cleaning products, such as bleach, kitchen rolls and detergent. “In this new stage, without price controls, businessmen contribute, voluntarily and temporarily, so that the inflationary scourge affects the purchasing power of consumers to a lesser extent,” they promote in a statement.
The lack of precision is centrally criticizable for the large supermarket, due to a central problem: “We do not know if we have merchandise to stock a basket for 60 days. The one who says that he maintains the price of the noodles for two months but does not put the brand is because he cannot guarantee that this will happen,” they alert this medium. This leads to another current tension with suppliers, as a result of the strong markings in the lists sent, especially after the devaluation. A representative of a supermarket chain detailed a drop in food sales of 10% and 50% in household appliances.
As explained by the sector, with several suppliers “the discussions are still open” and in the case of some products in particular, “the price differences are irreconcilable”, not to mention that sometimes the backordering of products on the shelves is also observed. Only since December 24 have no strong price movements been detected. “The chains are making an effort to maintain the price gap favorable to consumers by intensely negotiating new lists and are offering promotions,” they justify. The Ministry of Commerce itself recognizes that the latest increases “are not consistent with macro movements.” although they understand that the current moment is “very difficult, where foreign trade was collapsed, with fewer goods on the market and delays in prices.”
The organization will continue with powers such as the application of the Consumer Defense Law, Commercial Loyalty Law, Legal Metrology and the SEPA system, a price survey system articulated during the macrismo. “It allows us to monitor, but we will not put on our bibs and control prices on shelves. This program allows us to review the supplier’s pricing policy when it complains about the lack of profitability,” the organization says.
Source: Ambito
