The Bulgarian government's "Care Basket" initiative appears to have largely faded from retail stores, with signs identifying products included in the program now difficult to find, according to checks by the newspaper Sega at major supermarket chains.
The initiative was launched in early June, when the government of Progressive Bulgaria reached an agreement with retail chains to offer at least 30 food products at prices at least 15% below previous levels for a period of at least six months. Bulgarian-made products were to be prioritized. Unlike short-term weekly promotions, the program was intended to provide consumers with more lasting price reductions.
However, the promised "Care Basket" signs are now absent from many stores, and in some outlets that had announced their participation, they cannot be found at all. At the same time, supermarkets continue to display large numbers of red promotional labels offering discounts that are often considerably greater than the 15% reduction required by the government initiative.
The program also excludes fruits and vegetables, some of the products most frequently bought by consumers. Retail chains therefore appear to favor their regular weekly promotions rather than maintaining a separate selection under the government scheme.
