A new Lithuanian trade network has accused Mere: suppliers are told to choose

The head of the Lithuanian retail chain MLC, Justas Poderis, comments that after opening the third store in Kaunas and planning to open at least 3 more this year, he is increasingly receiving calls from suppliers about terminated contracts.

“Some suppliers do not reveal the reasons, but some have revealed that they were told to choose either us or the bigger Mere for the time being. Some suppliers did not succumb to such blackmail, which is good, but others did not want to risk losing profits. It’s somewhat funny, but also sad because Russian business practices are noticeable and not stopped in Lithuania.

This is not just a business – we are a trade network of Lithuanian capital, we support fair competition and do not justify such dirty games, which contribute to the decrease of choice for buyers and the support of the Russian regime”, he says.

J. Poderis adds that other small retail chains in Lithuania were also spoken to, who admitted that they also faced similar pressure from the “Mere” retail chain, especially if they tried to establish themselves in places close to them.

According to the MLC, the “Mere” retail chain, which has 26 stores in Lithuania, is facing problems: experts increasingly criticize government representatives, although the latter assure that the activities of “Mere” in Lithuania can be limited only if it is decided to ban the activities of Russian capital companies in the European Union. It is also said that “Svetofor” plans to sell its network in Lithuania due to the risks that have arisen, but there is no more information about this.

“MLC” representatives say that they cannot fight against the blackmail of the network.

“Such business practices are in the gray area. They are not morally right, but businesses have a choice with whom to work and according to which aspects to choose partners, so we cannot solve this problem legally,” says Mr. Poderis.