The group of wholesale and retail food product traders of the Trade Association of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce announced that the growth of margins in stores is lower than the growth of business costs, and regarding claims in the public that trading margins are extremely high and that they are the result of opportunistic behavior of traders due to inflationary pressures.
Serbian traders state that the average rate of net profit of the retail sector in Serbia, of around 2.8 percent, is several times lower than that of other participants in the retail supply chain, as well as in relation to the significant increase in operating costs, which include salaries, electricity energy, fuel, lease, maintenance and more.
They point out that, in conditions of serious external disturbances, caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Serbian traders managed to ensure regularity in supply, regular salaries for tens of thousands of employees and support for local producers and suppliers who in this way ensure a secure source of income.
