Kosovo Joins Regional Movement to Boycott Supermarkets Over High Prices

 The campaign to boycott supermarkets due to high prices, which initially started in Croatia and later expanded to North Macedonia, has now gained traction in Kosovo. Over the weekend, images promoting the boycott, labeled "Kosova bojkoton, 1-7 shkurt," began circulating on social media. However, it remains unclear who is behind this initiative.

 A man looking at the receipt next to the shopping cart after grocery shopping.

One of the individuals who has publicly shared the boycott image is actress Arta Selimi. The campaign specifically calls for a boycott of major supermarket chains in Kosovo, including Viva Fresh Store, Meridian, ETC, Spar, Super Viva, and Interex.

The online news portal Reporteri.net reached out to Selatin Kaçaniku, the head of the "Konsumatori" association, for comments on the boycott. Kaçaniku clarified that his organization is not behind the campaign that started on Saturday. However, he warned that if businesses fail to respond adequately, the association will take action after the national elections.

"By February 9, economic chambers, businesses—whether producers, service providers, or retailers—especially wholesale and retail associations, must reflect and declare their stance. They have until February 10 to engage in discussions. If no progress is made, then after February 10, we will gather at 'Nëna Terezë' Square, 'Ibrahim Rugova' Square, and 'Zahir Pajaziti' Square," Kaçaniku told Reporteri.net.

Former Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi has also voiced support for the boycott. In a post on the social media platform X, he highlighted that major supermarkets in Kosovo recorded record profits in 2024, suggesting that price hikes were not solely due to inflation but also deliberate increases by businesses.

"I have consistently written about food prices in Kosovo. We know that large supermarkets saw record profits in 2024, which indicates not only inflation but also price hikes. Perhaps boycotts are necessary in Kosovo, just as they are in Croatia," Selimi wrote.

The movement to boycott supermarkets first began in Croatia on January 24 and has since spread to Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The campaign aims to pressure retailers into lowering prices by reducing consumer demand, a tactic that has been widely discussed across the Balkans.

As the boycott gains momentum in Kosovo, it remains to be seen how businesses and consumers will respond in the coming days.