Consumers across the Balkans are boycotting supermarkets in protest against soaring prices, as frustrations over the rising cost of living spread from Croatia to neighboring countries.
The wave of retail boycotts began in Croatia in late January, triggered by social media campaigns calling on citizens to refrain from shopping. The movement, initiated by the Facebook group ‘Halo, inspektore,’ has since gained support from consumer protection groups, trade unions, and political figures, including Economy Minister Josip Kelemen.
“Today we will boycott everything again, from supermarkets to pharmacies, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants. Let us not enter any shops or hire any services,” Kelemen said ahead of the third round of boycotts on Feb. 7.
Initially targeting international retailers such as Germany’s Lidl and Italy’s Eurospin, the boycott later expanded to include Croatian chain Konzum, with a week-long protest set to end on Feb. 14.
Regional Spillover
The movement has since spread to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Serbia, with similar actions taking place in each country.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the informal group ‘Bojkot u BiH’ led a boycott on Feb. 7-8, leading to a decline in supermarket turnover. In North Macedonia, retailers saw significant drops in sales on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, though some responded with discounts to counteract the impact. Serbian consumer group ‘Efektiva’ organized a one-day boycott on Jan. 31 and called for another protest starting Feb. 10, targeting five major retail chains.
Montenegro saw similar boycotts on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8, with the action backed by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, non-governmental organizations, and trade unions. However, the Chamber of Commerce and the Montenegrin Consumer Association opposed the protests.
In Bulgaria, four organizations called for a nationwide supermarket boycott on Feb. 13, according to initiative coordinator Velizar Enchev, a former Bulgarian ambassador to Croatia.
Rising Prices and Inflation
Economists attribute Croatia’s price hikes to strong consumer demand, supported by EU funds, and supply-side constraints. Eurostat data shows food prices in Croatia stood at 148.7 points in December 2024, above the EU average of 145.2. Bulgaria recorded even higher food prices at 174.4 points.
In January, annual inflation in the eurozone was estimated at 2.5%, with food, alcohol, and tobacco inflation at 2.3%. In Croatia, inflation stood at 5%, the highest in the euro area.
Consumers argue that wages have failed to keep pace with food costs, while local producers complain that cheaper imports and price pressures from large retailers are making it harder to stay competitive.
Government Responses and Price Controls
Governments have responded by considering or implementing price caps. Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina promised to freeze prices on 50 products, while the Republika Srpska entity vowed stricter inspections. In Bulgaria, lawmakers proposed a bill to limit markups on staple foods, while Croatian authorities expanded the list of capped products to include flour, milk, meat, bread, and hygiene items.
Effectiveness of Boycotts in Question
Despite the strong public response, data shows mixed results on whether the boycotts are having a lasting impact.
In North Macedonia, the Public Revenue Office reported a 46.6% drop in turnover for the country’s largest supermarket chains on Jan. 31, but sales rebounded by 11.2% the following day. In Montenegro, the Jan. 31 boycott led to a 56.1% revenue drop for the five biggest retailers, but those same stores saw increased sales the day before and after the protest.
Serbian tax authorities reported that major retailers experienced a roughly one-third decline in sales on Jan. 31, while in Croatia, the first nationwide boycott on Jan. 24 resulted in a 44% drop in transactions and a 53% fall in sales value. However, subsequent boycotts saw diminishing effects.
While the long-term impact remains uncertain, the boycotts have fueled public anger, particularly in Croatia, which adopted the euro in 2023 but continues to see higher prices than some more developed EU states.
(Source: Agerpres, ATA, BTA, EFE, FENA, HINA, MIA, MINA, STA, Tanjug as part of the European Newsroom project)
