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“Eurotorg” CEO: 40% Receipts Include Alcohol

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“Eurotorg” CEO: 40% Receipts Include Alcohol

Retail trade networks stand against adoption of a decree, regulating the turnover of alcohol.

The biggest retail trade networks stand totally against the decree which hardens the conditions of realization of the alcohol production, and foresee negative consequences for the market in case of its adoption. This was stated at a press-conference in Minsk on October 20, BelaPAN reports.

As informed by Chairperson of the Association of Retail Trade Networks Tatsiana Zakzheuskaya, the prepared draft bill of the president’s decree prescribes that alcoholic beverages may only be sold at 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

“Moreover, the project of the state decision presumes creation of detached subdivisions inside the stores, with separate cash desks. The stores with less than 300 square meters of area will find it impossible to fulfill this demand, adoption of this draft bill will cause catastrophic consequences for the market,” — Zakzheuskaya underlined.

Directors of large retail trade networks, who were at the press-conference, stated that adoption of the decree the way it was would lead to closing of many shops.

“In case this decree is adopted, about 7-8 shops out of 17 in our network will be unable to meet the requirements of the norms set in the document. Respectively, we will have to get rid of them in order not to let the whole network collapse,” — CEO of the “Posttorg” Siarhei Smolski said.

CEO of the retail trade network “Rublyovski” Natallia Shablinskaya noted that only two shops out of 71 would be capable of fulfilling the requirements of the prepared document.

"20 stores will require significant investment, which is, capital expenditure for the implementation of the rules prepared by decree in case of adoption of the draft. As for the other stores, we just cannot do anything to bring them into conformity with the norms of the document," — Shablinskaya stressed, adding that the innovation would cause a reduction of retail trade turnover.

In her opinion, the adoption of such state decision will lead to a rise in consumer prices. "We can compensate for the losses associated with the implementation of the prepared draft of the state decision by nothing except the increase in prices for the sale of goods, which we really do not want to do", — Shablinskaya said.

These concerns are shared by CEO of "Eurotorg" (a network of shops "Euroopt") Andrey Zubkou. "The retail trade turnover decreased by 3.1% in the first nine months. 40% of receipts include alcohol. So, if the prepared draft decree is adopted, it will definitely lead to a further reduction in turnover," — he said.

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