In a remarkable display of consumer power, Croatian shoppers have achieved a small but significant victory through a two-week boycott of major retail chains that left supermarkets and hypermarkets standing empty. The government’s response? A new price control list featuring 70 essential products, more than doubling the previous list of 30 items.
The boycott, orchestrated by the Facebook group “Hello, Inspector,” proved particularly effective on Fridays – traditionally the busiest shopping day – when retail sales plummeted by 44 percent. The initiative’s success has caught the attention of major stakeholders across the country and beyond.
Under the new regulations, retailers must now offer at least one price-controlled product from each category. “For instance, among all spaghetti brands available in stores, at least one must have a regulated price, though retailers can choose to include more,” explained Croatian Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar. The controlled items range from bread, milk, and pasta to household essentials like laundry detergent and soap.
Stores larger than 400 square meters will be required to create dedicated shelves for these price-regulated products. The initiative has garnered widespread support from various sectors, including the European Consumer Protection Center (ECIP), consumer protection associations, labor unions, political parties, and even government ministers.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković acknowledged the boycott as “an important and clearly formulated message from people who are actively comparing prices” between Croatia and neighboring countries.