Inspectors fined three stores owned by the KAM chain, where customers were no allowed to purchase cooking oil, even though it was available in the stores.

KAM decided to offer cooking oil for free, but only to customers who would purchase 800 denars worth of other products. Other paying customers were turned back, which prompted anxiety, as KAM is a very popualr chain with retirees and lower paid citizens.

The Kovacevski Government is relying strongly on inspectors to go after retail and gas chains where shortages were reported in the past weeks, after profit margins were artifically set by the Government and in light of rising oil prices.

Customers can’t be conditioned in this way. The markets did not display clear signs that they are not selling cooking oil, and they had it on stock. Only smaller items can be given away as presents, said inspector Aneta Simeska – Dimoska.

The company was fined 12,000 EUR and its manager – 3,600 EUR.