A mass consumer boycott channeling anger against rising prices in Croatia that has spread to neighboring countries in Southeast Europe looks set to continue, with campaigners announcing another day of action.
According to a Business Insider report, government data showed that food, beverages and tobacco inflation stood at 4.7% in Croatia in January.
In response, a consumer rights group, ‘Halo, inspektore,’ launched a campaign on social media calling on shoppers in Croatia to boycott stores on selected Fridays. The first took place on January 24 with another on January 31.
Now ‘Halo, inspektore’ has announced another day of action.
"On Friday, we're going to boycott everything again, and from Saturday, we're going to boycott a retail chain," said Josip Kelemen, a former TV host on a consumer protection show also called "Hello, Inspector," who founded the group.
"Let's do it all again. From retail chains, bakeries, services. Everything. The goal is to show that we can spend less," Kelemen added.
In response, a consumer rights group, ‘Halo, inspektore,’ launched a campaign on social media calling on shoppers in Croatia to boycott stores on selected Fridays. The first took place on January 24 with another on January 31.
Now ‘Halo, inspektore’ has announced another day of action.
"On Friday, we're going to boycott everything again, and from Saturday, we're going to boycott a retail chain," said Josip Kelemen, a former TV host on a consumer protection show also called "Hello, Inspector," who founded the group.
"Let's do it all again. From retail chains, bakeries, services. Everything. The goal is to show that we can spend less," Kelemen added.
Retailers hit
Kelemen is probably hoping to see a repeat of the success of the first two boycotts that hit retailers hard and prompted action from the government.
According to figures from Croatia’s Tax Authority published in the newspaper Poslovni Dnevnik, the number of receipts recorded on January 31, the second day of protest, was 5,670,377, worth a collective €89,275,886. In contrast on January 17, a boycott-free Friday, 7,195,440 receipts were issued for €121,898,234.
As a result of the customer no-show, the government has announced the expansion of a list of price-capped essential goods. The new list includes bread, pasta, canned goods, dairy products and cured meat, as reported by Croatia Week. Supermarkets also unveiled lower prices on 1,000 goods, the outlet said.
Still, the Croatian campaign looks set to intensify by hitting one retail chain on Saturday.
Following an online poll hosted by ‘Halo, inspektore,’ the group said it had received over 200,000 votes on which retail chain should be targeted.
Meanwhile, the Croatian protests have inspired similar action across the region.
A boycott was initiated in Serbia on January 31, where large-scale student protests against the government have been ongoing since November.
In North Macedonia, revenue at eight supermarket chains plummeted by half following a boycott last Friday, the local press reported. And following protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the government has announced a price reduction of 50 basic foodstuffs.
Protests were also called for on social media in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia.
TVP World asked ‘Halo, inspektore,’ for comment by email and is awaiting a response.
According to figures from Croatia’s Tax Authority published in the newspaper Poslovni Dnevnik, the number of receipts recorded on January 31, the second day of protest, was 5,670,377, worth a collective €89,275,886. In contrast on January 17, a boycott-free Friday, 7,195,440 receipts were issued for €121,898,234.
As a result of the customer no-show, the government has announced the expansion of a list of price-capped essential goods. The new list includes bread, pasta, canned goods, dairy products and cured meat, as reported by Croatia Week. Supermarkets also unveiled lower prices on 1,000 goods, the outlet said.
Still, the Croatian campaign looks set to intensify by hitting one retail chain on Saturday.
Following an online poll hosted by ‘Halo, inspektore,’ the group said it had received over 200,000 votes on which retail chain should be targeted.
Spiralling across the region
Meanwhile, the Croatian protests have inspired similar action across the region.
A boycott was initiated in Serbia on January 31, where large-scale student protests against the government have been ongoing since November.
In North Macedonia, revenue at eight supermarket chains plummeted by half following a boycott last Friday, the local press reported. And following protests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the government has announced a price reduction of 50 basic foodstuffs.
Protests were also called for on social media in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia.
TVP World asked ‘Halo, inspektore,’ for comment by email and is awaiting a response.
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