At a meeting of the Interim commission studying the pricing structure of food products, medicines, and fuel, representatives of retail network operators - Carrefour, Nikora, 2 Nabiji, and Daily Group - were heard.

According to the Chair of the commission, Shota Berekashvili, the pricing chain for food products and fast-moving consumer goods is multi-layered, involving manufacturers, importers-distributors, and retail network operators.

He noted that chain supermarkets hold particular influence within this structure, as they largely determine pricing policies in the market: “Transparent and healthy management of this sector is critically important in order to ensure competitiveness and provide consumers with the best possible prices. The four companies represented at today’s meeting are major players in the sector, holding approximately 71% of the organized market share, which, according to 2024 data, amounts to 7 billion GEL”.

During the meeting, retail network operators discussed: product placement in stores, relations with manufacturers and distributors, and marketing and sales costs.

It was noted that the “retro bonus,” also known as “cashback,” is used to reduce the price of essential consumer goods, and that retail network operators have no financial interest in maintaining it.

The General Director of 2 Nabiji, Archil Melikadze, stated: “Cashback is not our initiative, and we are ready to abolish it as early as tomorrow if the supplier agrees. If necessary, we will provide discounts using our own funds”.

According to the Chair of the Supervisory Board of Daily Group, Archil Gegenava, abolishing cashback would not affect product prices, but would rather increase transparency and openness in the pricing chain among participating entities.

Commission members and retail network operators also discussed the transfer of payments for sold products to manufacturers and distributors, as well as the importance of establishing large logistics centers, presenting several ideas and proposals in this regard.

Summarizing the meeting, Berekashvili emphasized: “A number of interesting initiatives and opinions were expressed and will be further studied by the commission. It is important for us that the pricing chain becomes more transparent and that relations among the entities involved in the process are established within clear and fair frameworks. This will enable us to monitor these relations more effectively, which will directly impact both the proper functioning of the market and the socio-economic well-being of the population”.