Need a package? Retail chains are suspected of "package collusion" and will be investigated by the antimonopoly service.
Grocery retailers are suspected of colluding to maintain high markups on plastic bags at store checkouts. The price has increased by 25% in a year. complained The Association of Professional Users of Social Networks and Messengers, which protects consumer rights, sent a letter to the Federal Antimonopoly Service.
The Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Magnit, and Dixy retail chains were asked to conduct an audit. All of them set the same price for their bags—9,99 rubles, although they had previously set different prices. The association reports that the purchase price for the bags is much lower: an average of 2,5 to 3 rubles per bag. They even became cheaper in 2025 due to declining demand and the reduction in the cost of polyethylene.
The current markup is "extremely high" and exceeds the average markup in grocery retail, according to the association. Furthermore, T-shirt bags are the most frequently purchased item in grocery retail, according to research firm NTech. Therefore, these bags could generate billions of rubles in revenue for retailers.
However, there is another opinion: the price increase may be related to retailers promoting an environmental agenda, as it motivates shoppers to reuse their bags or switch to reusable ones.
The Federal Antimonopoly Service promised to conduct an investigation. However, lawyers note that price-fixing cases are rare.