Economic inspectorate carries out research into new promotiestunt of Albert Heijn

Economy Minister of the Consumers Kris Peeters (CD&V) has the Economic Inspection mission given the remarkable promotional campaigns of supermarket chain Albert Heijn to the light. Professional Association Of Convenience Stores.be had to the economic inspectorate asked for an investigation into the "1+2 free"-promotion. In Belgium, the sales at a loss, after all, prohibited by law. The organization speaks of a "destructive strategy".

After the melkstunt of last week's picks Albert Heijn Belgium again with unseen prijsgeweld: the bonusfolder from Monday 4 to Sunday 10 February has a whole range of offers in the vein of "1+2 free". Who, for example, in the Albert Heijn supermarket one pack Soubry-spaghetti buy, get two free on top. The same offer also applies to buns, peppers, a few wines and for well-known branded products as McCain-diepvriesfrieten or Nivea-shower cream.

also Read Albert Heijn unleashes unprecedented price war in our country: ‘1+1 free’ is ‘1+2 free’

It is outside the sales are prohibited for products with a loss to sell in Belgium. The economic inspectorate will be now with an accounting investigation to see if that has happened, confirms spokeswoman Chantal De Pauw to our editors. That actually means that the inspection in the accounting for the purchase price of the products will go and have a look. The research does not mean that Albert Heijn anyway, it was a mistake. If the chain has managed large discounts to terms with his suppliers, that is no problem. the

“I want to examine whether the ban on sell with loss is observed and there is no undue pressure is exerted on suppliers,” says minister Peeters. “Low prices are good for the consumer, but it is prohibited from selling at a loss. When selling with loss of the normal competition impossible. Big players can so the little ones wegconcurreren and the market start to dominate.”

According to Local.be risking the promotions of Albert Heijn end up in a rat race that can be harmful for the economy as a whole". The association believes that the rat race will have an impact on the employment and expected to say that the margekrimp food companies will induce to invest less in innovation.

"That eventually leads to a general degradation of our foods," argues director Luc Ardies. "This is not just about the small self-employed person who is disadvantaged by the multinational company. Just at a time that the food sector is in need of additional resources to the many future challenges (digitization, investments in environmental conservation measures, ...) leads this kind of promotions is one of the leading Belgian sectors for the destruction," he concludes.