Ćorluka: Domestic producers must be better negotiators

Even if Croatian millionaire Ivica Todorić buys Slovenian „Mercator“, thus achieving an absolute monopoly on the retail market in BiH, it should not significantly affect the ratio of domestic and foreign products on the shelves of retail outlets in our country. This is the opinion of Petar Ćorluka, owner of the largest BiH hygiene product factory „Violeta“ from Grude.

In a statement to the BiH news agency Patria (NAP), Ćorluka said that he is aware of the difficulties domestic producers face, but he believes that no one should be blamed for it. Every producer must fight for their place in the market themselves.

- „Violeta“ as a company has excellent cooperation with all distributors in BiH. First and foremost are domestic retail outlets, but also foreign shopping malls. However, our place in shopping malls depends exclusively on our negotiating abilities and skill to fight for a good status – says Ćorluka for NAP. He explains that the market functions on a competitive basis. All producers would like exclusive spots on the shelves of shopping malls, but it is not always possible to get them.

- It's a constant struggle there. You can never relax. You have to fight for your place in the market – Ćorluka told NAP.