The concentration in the meat market is also maintained in the opening of the market to imports. The Ministry of Economy distributed the duty-free import quota of chilled meat of 14,000 tons, only to 3 importers. The winners are Shufersal, Neto and Erez Kornfeld’s “Edom” company. Net from Linda, received a quota of 7,000 tons, with a commitment to sell minced meat at a price of NIS 29 per kg. Shufersal received a quota of 4,500 tons, with a commitment to sell minced meat for NIS 30. Edom Group received the smallest quantity of 2,500 tons, after undertaking to sell Fresh minced meat for the consumer at NIS 31 per kg.
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In addition, the committee will consider giving Rami Levy a quota of up to 3,000 tons after the hearing procedure conducted for the company is completed. As you may recall, 4 months ago, the Quotas Committee in the Ministry of Economy announced that it would decide, subject to a hearing, a guarantee of Rami Levy Sycamore Marketing in the amount of NIS 2.6 million, claiming that the company violated the provisions of the competitive procedure for importing meat. it’s aboutForfeiture 50% of the guarantees deposited by the company, amounting to NIS 5.2 million). The committee decided on this step, after it claimed that Levy had received notifications of price violations at the branches, but did not correct them. Levy denied the allegations.
Not only in relation to Levy, there were claims regarding the price that the consumer was required to pay for meat in duty-free imports. About a week ago, a lawsuit was filed with a request for approval as a class action, against the net meat importer and against the Victory chain, alleging the sale of fresh minced meat imported through duty-free quotas at a price higher than the maximum price set. According to the plaintiff, a customer of the Victory chain, the chain sold the meat at prices ranging from NIS 40 to NIS 50 per kilo. The plaintiff claimed that this was a trending violation on the part of the importer and the chain of tender instructions issued by the Ministry of Economy for 2020, which aims to reduce the consumer price of freshly ground beef imported from abroad.
The Ministry of Economy said it will increase enforcement in 2021 to make sure importers and retail chains meet their commitments to sell the meat at a low price to the consumer.