A statement has been issued by the Olive Friends Association regarding the high retail shelf prices of olive oil. The statement emphasized that a liter of olive oil sold by producers at around 15 Turkish lira but reaching consumers at prices of 30 lira and above in supermarkets is damaging the sector. Calling on the large-scale companies dominating the domestic market to sacrifice part of their high profit margins, Association President Murat Çetin stated, “Under current market conditions, it is possible to sell one liter of olive oil at 20–22 lira.”
Murat Çetin, President of the Olive Friends Association, pointed out that olive oil is being sold expensively on supermarket shelves and called on the companies dominating the domestic market, as well as chain supermarkets, to “bring prices down to realistic levels.” Çetin also stressed that the recommendation to “choose higher-priced products in order to avoid adulteration” is, on its own, insufficient, and ultimately works to the benefit of both adulterators and those seeking excessive profit margins.
The long-debated issue of whether olive oil is expensive or not has once again become a key topic on the sector’s agenda in recent years. In the past days, some sector representatives had made statements indicating that olive oil was being presented to consumers at high prices in supermarkets. Murat Çetin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Olive Friends Association, also made a statement on the matter, expressing that olive oil prices should be brought to a reasonable level. According to Çetin, this can only be achieved if the leading companies in the domestic market reduce their profit margins to reasonable levels and chain supermarkets make concessions on shelf prices. He noted that the producer exit price of olive oil is currently determined by market conditions and stands at a maximum of around 15 lira per liter, adding that the real issue arises at the stage where the product is offered to consumers. Explaining that olive oil sold at 30 lira and above per liter on supermarket shelves prevents greater consumer uptake, Çetin made the following assessment:
“We are currently in the middle of the olive oil season. Our factories are operating continuously. Our olive producers want our people to consume high-quality olive oil. We want to respond to the growing demand for olive oil. However, when we look at the data, we remain far behind per capita olive oil consumption averages of 22 liters in Greece and 19 liters in Spain. In Turkey, a country that itself produces olive oil, we have only recently risen above an average consumption of 2 liters per person. We are still far from the desired level of consumption. In order to increase consumption, olive oil must be accessible. One of the obstacles standing in the way of this is the fact that olive oil reaches the end consumer at excessively high prices. Today, a liter of olive oil that leaves the producer at a maximum of 15 lira is offered for sale in supermarkets at 30 lira and above. How is this gap formed?! We maintain that the same olive oil can be sold in supermarkets at levels of 20–22 lira. At this point, major companies controlling 80 percent of the domestic market have a responsibility. We call on these companies to reduce their profit margins to more reasonable levels. It is also stated that the shelf prices set by chain supermarkets play a role in this price increase. We underline that we expect a constructive approach from supermarket managers regarding shelf pricing as well. Offering olive oil—the healthiest oil in the world—at reasonable prices that align with the purchasing power of our people will both increase consumption and allow the market to consolidate in a healthier manner. As the Olive Friends Association, we want to establish this win-win understanding by making olive oil accessible.”
HIGH PRICES BENEFIT ADULTERATORS
Murat Çetin also stated that olive oil sold at prices above what is reasonable drives consumers toward oils sold under unhealthy conditions, and emphasized that uncontrolled products without any form of food inspection create unfair and unhealthy competition. Recalling that from time to time the advice is given to consumers not to prefer low-priced oils as a precaution against adulterated (blended/fraudulent) olive oil, Çetin said that while this recommendation is not incorrect, it remains incomplete. Stressing that adulteration can only be identified in accredited laboratories with the necessary competence, Çetin further stated that these analyses should be supported by the state so that citizens may, if possible, have their products tested free of charge or at a very low cost. Çetin said, “Today, there is state support for sapling planting, olive oil, and exports. However, when it comes to inspecting the oil itself, no such support exists. These analyses cost around two to three hundred lira. If we can make food controls accessible through such support, we can also curb adulteration.”
ZEYTİN AĞACI http://www.zeytinagacidergisi.com/mansetler/zeytindostu-derneginden-devlere-fiyat-cikisi-8140
MİLLİYET http://www.milliyet.com.tr/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani–yerelhaber-2442741/
STAR GAZETESİ http://www.star.com.tr/yerel-haberler/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-177392/
MYNET http://finans.mynet.com/borsa/haberdetay/20171204061614/
HABERLER COM https://www.haberler.com/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-10307996-haberi/
HABER 7 http://www.haber7.com/izmir/2488556-zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin
SON DAKİKA COM https://www.sondakika.com/haber/haber-zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-10307996/
MANİSA KENT HABER http://www.manisakenthaber.com/ekonomi/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-h34093.html
MANİSADA BİRGÜN https://www.manisadabirgun.com/ekonomi/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-h60146.html
MANİSA HABER: LET US BRING PRICES DOWN TO REALISTIC LEVELS http://www.manisahabergazetesi.com.tr/fiyatlari-gercekci-seviyelere-indirelim/
GÜZELHİSAR GAZETESİ: OLIVE OIL SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE http://www.guzelhisargazetesi.com/haber-zeytinyagi-ulasilabilir-olmali-11663.html
METROPOLİS HABER: PRICE CALL http://www.metropolishaber.com/gundem/zeytindostu-derneginden-firmalara-fiyat-cagrisi-h875.html
MEDYA EGE: PRICE CALL http://www.medyaege.com.tr/zeytindostu-derneginden-fiyat-cagrisi-63211h.htm
PUSULA https://www.pusulahaber.com.tr/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-738334h.htm
KONYANIN SESİ http://www.konyaninsesi.com.tr/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-597104h.htm
MEMLEKET http://www.memleket.com.tr/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-1273912h.htm
MEDYA RADAR http://www.medyaradar.com/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-haberi-882595
GAZETE EKONOMİ http://www.gazeteekonomi.com/ekonomi/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-h491406.html
BORSA GÜNDEM http://m.borsagundem.com/anlik-borsa-haberleri/20171204061614
EMLAK EKİ http://www.emlakeki.com/zeytindostu-dernegi-yonetim-kurulu-baskani-cetin-haberi-385088
YENİ VİZYON http://www.yenivizyon.net/zeytindostu-derneginden-zeytinyagi-fiyati-aciklamasi-81023h.htm
GÜNAYDIN ALİAĞA http://www.yenivizyon.net/zeytindostu-derneginden-zeytinyagi-fiyati-aciklamasi-81023h.htm
