Cigarette boycott rescinded

KIOSK and convenience store associations have called on owners to begin selling tobacco products from S. Stavrou Karelia again, after last weeks boycott.

The associations had called on store owners to withdraw the company’s products after they had decided to take advantage of the law and reduce retailers’ profits from six per cent to four per cent.

Head of the convenience store association, Andreas Theodoulou, said the decision to revert came after a meeting with the company’s chairman.

“We call on our members to return the company’s goods to the shelves,” he said.

Kiosk association head Sakis Siakopoulos added that the majority of shops had responded to calls to immediately implement the measures to boycott the company’s tobacco products.

“That is the reason we have had such a positive outcome and that is why we call on the few shops that did not respond to unite with us so we can protect the interests of our industry and help our businesses survive,” he said.

The move by the associations in Cyprus sparked interest from associations in Greece.

“Our colleagues in Greece have asked for information and cooperation to face the problems which have been created by the law to enforce a maximum retail price for cigarettes,” a joint statement from both associations said.