The number of branches of supermarket chains selling food products is increasing in Azerbaijan. In some areas, it is observed that supermarkets of the same name operate densely – at a distance of 100-150 meters – and are located in the courtyards of residential complexes.
In a situation where there are many such supermarket chains, the activities of small entrepreneurs and owners of small markets engaged in trade become difficult. There are even hundreds of small markets that have gone out of business.
Economist expert Eyyub Kərimli stated in his statement to Modern.az that the ongoing processes represent a natural economic landscape:
“We advocate for the protection of consumer rights. The proliferation of supermarkets is an acceptable situation in terms of meeting buyers' demands for quantity and quality”.
He noted that there is no legislative right for this:
“I do not expect any draft law to be prepared in this regard”.
Eyyub Kərimli said that in some European countries, there is a centralization of such supermarkets:
“In some countries, I have traveled 70 kilometers for a supermarket. Here, however, this service is densely provided. The cessation of activities of small entrepreneurs as a result of the increase in network branches is a natural occurrence. A business entity that cannot meet demand will go out of business”.
