Distribution of Goods and Services in Chain Stores Under Consumer Protection Scrutiny

In line with safeguarding consumer rights and monitoring pricing and product availability at the country's chain stores, a visit and inspection was carried out today at a Shahrvand chain store.

According to Ambassador Arjan, Mahmoud Salabi, Inspector General of Industry, Mining and Trade Affairs of the General Inspection Organization of the country, Hossein Farhidzadeh, Deputy Minister of Security and Head of Consumers and Producers Support Organization, together with Seyed Dawood Mousavi, Deputy Director of Business Development of the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade, visited the Shahrudan chain store of Bayhaghi branch.

This visit was done with the aim of checking the supply and distribution of goods, the transparency of prices, the way of providing services and evaluating the challenges facing chain stores.

During this visit, the inventory status of the goods needed by the people at the store and warehouse level, the way of supply of items included in the product catalog plan and the level of readiness of the collection for the continuation of supply and distribution of goods in different conditions were examined. Also, matching the discounts listed on the shelves with the final price calculated in the cash register, complying with the approved prices listed on the goods, how to supply products with old and new prices, and preventing distortion of the price tags were other axes of the inspection.

Checking the transparency of the price and supply of goods, the possibility of a shortage or unusual increase in prices, and the resilience of the store in maintaining the inventory and continuing to serve the people were also on the agenda. Based on the investigations carried out during this visit, no violations were found in the evaluated cases.

Another part of this visit was dedicated to examining operational issues and problems of chain stores. In this context, the challenges related to the delay in settling the demands of the stores from the place of implementation of the goods plan, liquidity problems, fuel supply and the effect of these factors on the process of supply, storage and distribution of goods were taken into consideration.

Also, the performance of chain stores, especially the Shahrvand collection, in the conditions of imposed war and the role of this network in the continuation of the supply of goods needed by the people were investigated. Maintaining the stability of the supply chain, strengthening the stores' readiness to face critical conditions, and continuing to provide services to consumers were among the topics emphasized in this visit.

This visit was carried out in the framework of the monitoring programs of the Consumer and Producer Protection Organization and with the aim of promoting transparency in the market, investigating the obstacles facing the distribution network and ensuring that consumers' rights are respected. The support organization considers the continuation of monitoring the pricing and supply of goods, the correct implementation of discounts, the proper access of people to essential items, and the follow-up of issues affecting the sustainability of supply and distribution of goods among its priorities.