OFAS Bashkiria demanded from Pyaterochka to reduce prices for chicken eggs

The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (UFAS) for Bashkiria issued a warning to Agrotorg, which operates the Pyaterochka supermarket chain. The agency demanded to reduce prices for chicken eggs in individual stores in the republic, according to a document published in the database of FAS decisions.

The reason was a prosecutor's check conducted on March 2, 2022 in stores in Ufa and the Sterlitamak region. During the inspection, it turned out that the chain sets different prices for the same goods in different stores. For example, eggs of the CO category of the Red Price brand in a store in Ufa were sold at 77.99 rubles. for a dozen, and in the Sterlitamak region - for 78.99 rubles. Eggs of the same brand, but category C2, were exhibited in Ufa at a price of 65.99 rubles. for ten pieces, and in the Sterlitamak region - for 67.99 rubles.

At the same time, in the Sterlitamaksky district, Pyaterochka occupies a dominant position in the retail grocery market. This chain accounts for 39.3% of goods sold in the municipality in 2020.

“Thus, the Pyaterochka retail chain (Agrotorg LLC) overprices for the same goods in a store located in a municipal district where the retail chain has signs of dominance, compared to stores in the city of Ufa, where it competes with other market participants and where this retail chain does not have signs of a dominant position,” the OFAS said in a statement.

The agency saw in the actions of the Agrotorg company signs of violation of the law on competition and abuse of a dominant position in the market. In fact, the company set inflated prices for socially significant products for residents of the district, the OFAS said in a statement. A warning demanding a reduction in the price of eggs must be executed within ten days, that is, by March 24th.