RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Large retailers, outside cities

Romanian product distribution companies complain about the opening of hypermarkets within cites.

Large retailers, outside cities
Large retailers, outside cities

, 05.04.2019, 13:50

In Romania, talks about relocating large stores outside city centres have been rehashed. So far, the opening of hypermarkets in major cities has resulted in the closing of many Romanian stores, and even people in rural communities are now doing their shopping in superstores. Moreover, the policy of large retailers is to protect imported goods, say the Romanian Product Distribution Companies, which propose changes in the legislation to the effect of stopping the construction of hypermarkets within cities and consequently of giving a chance to Romanian businesses as well.



Here is the president of the National Federation of Trade Unions in the Food Industry, Dragos Frumosu: “From now on, retailers should operate outside cities, so as to allow small producers or medium and small companies to operate within cities. Obviously, this means an increase in the number of jobs, in the amounts collected to the state budget, as well as an adjustment of prices in the market. Because today the prices charged by retailers are rather high, they include a lot of taxes and charges, so the end price of products may be up to 30% higher.”



Dragos Frumosu agrees that a change in the legislation, so as to ban the construction of hypermarkets within cities, will be a lengthy process, and one impossible to see through without the understanding of the situation by the political class: “I find it hard to believe that this will happen very soon. The start of a dialogue may lead to a construction process, provided that the political class are willing to do this and provided that there is no pressure, as we all know there is, from the representatives of the countries of origin of these hypermarkets. I believe that through constructive dialogue, all stakeholders will understand the situation and we will be able to create something to benefit everybody.”



As far back as in 2015, two MPs from the National Liberal Party, in opposition, tabled a draft law under which hypermarkets should be closed on Sundays and they should be located outside cities. They believe that, with superstores outside cities, Romanian producers will be able to sell their fruit and vegetables more easily, and locals will be free of the heavy traffic around hypermarkets.



The Association of Large Retail Chains however are against the idea. They say they have secured all the required permits, and they already sell Romanian products, based on partnerships with local farmers. They also claim this legislative initiative will lead to massive layoffs and huge losses in state budget revenues.

European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Gas consumption in the EU (Credits: magnascan-pixabay-com)
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Photo: roaep.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years ago, represented for Romanians an encouragement in their fight for freedom, and the removal of the Iron Curtain...

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall
Today in the News Friday, 15 November 2024

European minimum wage in Romania

The law on the introduction of the European minimum wage in Romania was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has...

European minimum wage in Romania

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company