Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy discussed a proposal on requiring larger supermarkets to offer regular discounts on selected products in a number of categories, at a meeting with retailers and professional associations on Tuesday, his ministry said. The consultations focused on finalising the details of the draft decree, the economic development ministry said in a statement. The mandatory discounts would be in force from June 1 until September 30, they said, noting that products must be selected for the special offers on a weekly basis.
The regulation will classify basic foodstuffs into 20 categories, including poultry, cheese, bread, baked goods, vegetables, fruit, rice and other cereals, the statement noted. Grocery chains will have to discount a product of their choosing from all 20 categories by at least 10% from the lowest price in the previous 30 days.
Nagy said the government devoted special attention to cooperation and consultations with state and market players, adding that the government will take into consideration recommendations made by its partners when finalising the discount regulations. Nagy and agriculture ministry state secretary for the food industry and trade policy Márton Nobilis held two separate meetings on Tuesday with industry insiders to discuss the measure: one with representatives of supermarket chains CBA, Real, Ecofamily, AFEOSZ-COOP and the chief secretary of commerce association MNKSZ; and the other with representatives of Aldi, Auchan, Lidl, Penny, Spar and Tesco, and the chief secretary of commerce association OKSZ, the ministry said.