The RA State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) touched upon the problem of large supermarkets, noting that some major supermarkets were recognized as having a dominating position.

The Commission has informed that, within the scope of the powers envisaged by law, supervision is being exercised exclusively for dominant commodity markets, given the fact that in recent days the press and social networks are discussing the problem of price changes for some agricultural commodities in large supermarkets of the capital.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the top five major supermarkets ("Alex Holding", "Nor Zovk", "Sas Group", "Evrika Group", "Krpak") occupy 15% of total retail trade, "The Committee informs and reminds that thousands of businesses are engaged in retail trade in Armenia. According to the latest NSS data, the total number of retail trade objects was 17,223 (without sales of fuel), while the total number of trade objects owned by 5 leading network supermarkets is 82 ", the statement reads.

It is noted, however, that the share of the above mentioned major trade networks in the commodity markets is rather low. This circumstance indicates that the possibilities and risks of limiting competition by the latters are quite low.

The SCPEC will continue to supervise and conduct relevant studies in the prevailing commodity markets to prevent and detect abuse cases as defined by law.

"The issue of meat prices is mainly being discussed, as regard of which we inform that there are no dominant economic entities in this market. The meat market is considered to be a competitive, low-concentrated market where prices are regulated by market mechanisms. There are hundreds of private companies, individuals, farmers in that market, and there are not any dominant business entities there. However, taking into account the social significance of the problem and the concern of the consumers, SCPEC conducted two-day monitoring in the major supermarkets of the capital. The Commission Monitoring Group has not detected any changes, and consumers can buy meat at the previous price, "says the SCPEC statement.

The short-term change in the price of meat last week was entirely conditioned by tax administration, and such problems are outside the SCPEC capacity. The principles of tax administration application and the actions of the economic entities caused by them are not related to the Commission's activities.

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