Auchan Hungary faces fines over watermelon row

Auchan Magyarország, the Hungarian unit of French international retail group Auchan, could face a fine of tens of millions of forints for selling watermelons below their purchase price.

The president of Hungary's Agricultural Directorate Office (MgSzH), László Lukács, said that MgSzH had launched an investigation into the matter after Hungary's fruit and vegetable product council had notified the office that Auchan was selling the fruits at under their procurement price.

Auchan was buying watermelons for Ft 65 (€0.28) per kilo and selling them for Ft 49 per kilo, according to MgSzH, which will calculate Auchan's fine at double the difference between the purchase price and sale price.

Agriculture Ministry state secretary Zoltán Gőgös noted that a Hungarian agriculture law passed in 2003 prohibits the sales of agricultural products at under the purchase price. (MTI – Econews)

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