Share of local products in retail chains increases in Bashkortostan

UFA, 5 March 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Juliya Antipina/. In Bashkortostan more local produce appear on the shelves of stores. This was the topic of the press conference "Food Security: Range, Quality and Price" held in Ufa.

“The proportion of locally produced goods increased in the trade turnover. For example, cheese turnover increased by 50 percent. That is to say 80 percent of cheese in the stores is produced in the Russian Federation, including in Bashkiria. The same situation is observed with the other products”, the Chairman of the State Committee RB for Trade and Consumer Protection Rustam Kamaletdinov marked.

Work is underway to supply a number of food items in the stores of Bashkortostan to replenish the deficit of local similar products.

“Fish production in the republic constitutes four percent of the market. The rest is supplied from the other regions”, the Chairman of the Bashkir Trade Association Vitaly Cherevkov said. “Two months ago, we identified suppliers that can deliver this product to Bashkiria. They are our partners in the Far East, from Murmansk and other regions who are willing to cooperate with our republic.”

Experts note that stores of various levels have become increasingly interested in products manufactured in Bashkortostan. For example, up to 90 percent of neighbourhood retailers work with the local range. Particularly active they cooperate with small agricultural enterprises, farms. In large chain stores there is a tendency to emphasize availability of locally produced goods on the shelves by means of design and advertising.

The State Committee representatives do not expect a sharp rise in food prices. On the contrary, they mark the seasonal decline in vegetables prices: tomatoes fell by 30 rubles for two weeks. The rise in price of meat is also associated with seasonal fluctuations in prices.

In Bashkortostan work is going on to reduce the price growth on seasonal produce. To do this, the interaction with suppliers from other regions and neighbouring countries is intensified. The emphasis is made on direct shipments without intermediaries.