Crossed the red: Rospotrebnadzor is preparing "Traffic Light" inspections
One of the largest Svetofor chains will undergo unscheduled inspections; they have already been approved by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Izvestia has learned. Manufacturers have repeatedly complained about the retail chain: the retailer does not pay for delivered goods until it sells them, and also returns expired products to its partners. Federal supervision may become a precedent for the grocery market, as well as a sign for other companies with unfair practices to reduce the sale of low-quality products, experts believe.
What is the company "Svetofor"
Rospotrebnadzor will conduct unscheduled inspections in the federal retail chain "Svetofor" (develops the brand of the same name and stores "Mayak"), learned "Izvestia". First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov has already instructed the service and the Ministry of Economic Development to submit to the government the necessary papers for this purpose, as follows from the documents of the Cabinet ofMinisters, which were familiarized by the editorial board. It is not yet known in which regions the inspections will take place.
A source in the Cabinet of Ministers told Izvestia that the government reacted to the appeal of Deputy Sergey Lisovsky and instructed to work out the necessary supervisory measures. The editorial board sent inquiries to the government, Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Economic Development to clarify whether the paperwork is ready to start inspections. The Ministry of Economic Development redirected the edition to the federal service, Rospotrebnadzor and Denis Manturov's office did not answer the questions.
Since 2020, the Russian Federation has a moratorium on scheduled inspections of businesses, including retail. Regulators can only come with unscheduled inspections and that in force majeure cases. For example, after numerous complaints against a company or if there is a threat to the health of citizens.
"Svetofor" manages 2.2 thousand stores with the same name and under the brand "Mayak", supplies through more than 100 logistics centers. According to the rating of the company "Infoline Analytics" for the first nine months of 2024, the company's revenue amounted to 286.3 billion rubles (-2.2% to the same period of 2023). The organization occupies the fifth position in the list of the largest retailers in the country after X5 Group, "Magnit", "Krasnoe&Beloe" and "Lenta".
"Izvestia" also sent inquiries to the largest retailers, including X5 Group, "Magnit", "Auchan", "Okay".
Igor Karavaev, chairman of the presidium of ACORT, said that large federal chains, which are members of the association, comply with the current legislation in terms of protecting the interests of producers, suppliers and consumers.
Svetofor did not answer Izvestia's questions.
Why "Svetofor" is being checked
At the end of December 2024, State Duma deputy Sergey Lisovsky asked the Cabinet of Ministers to conduct an inspection of "Svetofor" against the background of numerous violations - sales of low-quality and unsafe products. For example, the chain's suppliers recorded non-compliance with the law on labeling, technical regulations on the production of food products, such as dairy products. His letter is at the editorial office.
According to the deputy, Rospotrebnadzor inspections will take place as early as the end of January.
- " This may become a precedent for all retail chains that allow sales of low-quality and unfair products and deceive customers," he told Izvestia.
In the letter, he also specified that suppliers complain to him about the retail chain. The retailer circumvents the mandatory norms of the law on trade, the producers are sure. For example, the retailer does not directly conclude supply contracts with its partners. Instead, the contracts are drawn up at logistics centers. They, in turn, impose working conditions on suppliers under the pretext that they are not covered by the relevant law.
For example, such centers pay for goods only after they have been sold on the shelves of Svetofor. For comparison: today retailers are obliged to do it within the period limited by law, it depends on the shelf life of goods and can be, for example, 10 days. Moreover, logistics centers return expired and unsold products back to manufacturers, which is extremely unprofitable for contractors.
With these problems manufacturers have repeatedly appealed to the courts, which have already begun to recognize that logistics centers are part of the trade network, and therefore must comply with the law on trade, said Sergei Lisovsky "Izvestia". However, on the basis of this information, the FAS, which controls the enforcement of regulations in this area, can not automatically initiate cases of violations, the service must first conduct inspections. While they are underway, the deadlines for prosecution in such cases are coming to an end, the deputy noted.
"Rusprodsoyuz" twice appealed to the antimonopoly service with the fact that "Svetofor" violates the law on trade in terms of payment for goods after its sale, and not in the prescribed terms, plus illegally returned products, told "Izvestia" executive director of the association Dmitry Vostrikov.
- The chain evades the requirements of the law by contracting logistics companies that are actually part of a group of persons, which is confirmed by court decisions," he said. - Roskachestvo has also revealed violations, for example, in terms of storage time of food products in retail outlets. The chain was repeatedly brought to administrative responsibility for violations of the law.
Such practices in the market create financial risks for suppliers, as well as a precedent for unfair competition, Dmitry Vostrikov added.
"Izvestia" sent inquiries to regulators - to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture about whether such approaches are a violation of the law on trade.
The FAS press service told Izvestia that the service is analyzing the activities of the Svetofor retail chain for violations of the law on trade and antimonopoly legislation. Now abuses have been identified on the part of four logistics centers of the network, they have already been involved, the work continues, noted there.
What other retail chains can check
Facts and signs of violations of mandatory requirements at the network "Svetofor" fixed since 2014, said the head of the "Public Consumer Initiative" (OPI) Oleg Pavlov. He recalled that in the second quarter of 2023 it has already turned into a serious story: based on the results of the OPI appeal, the capital's Rospotrebnadzor conducted unscheduled inspections of 23 stores "Svetofor".
These facilities were found to have gross violations of the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological rules and technical regulations. Then more than 50% of food samples were substandard, officials withdrew from circulation more than 14 tons of food that was dangerous for consumers, or sold without accompanying documents and compliance with expiration dates, with visible damage and signs of spoilage.
- Now other discounters operating in the same segment as Svetofor are also at a certain risk, as the lowest possible prices are often achieved by violating mandatory requirements for products or the processes of their storage and sale," Oleg Pavlov, head of OPI, told Izvestia. - It cannot be ruled out that after inspections in this retail chain, the attention of supervisory authorities will be redirected to other similar companies. This should encourage entrepreneurs to abandon similar practices and bring their activities into compliance with the law without waiting for sanctions.
In Russia, discounter chains operate under such brands as Dobrotsen, Chizhik, My Price, Yes and others.
