The largest retail network of the Association of retail companies (HSE, it includes Magnit, X5 Retail Group, Auchan", "Dixie", Metro Cash & Carry, "Tape" and others) have agreed on how to deal with rising prices and pressure from officials. HSE has sent to the Federal Antimonopoly service (FAS) of the project agreement, the fixing of retail prices for socially important food products.

As told to "Vedomosti" the retailers who participated in the preparation of the document, the network can be protected from accusations of collusion. As soon as FAS approves the agreement, the prices will be frozen for two months. Doubt that the FAS will agree proposals, HSE no, says one of the retailers. FAS positive attitude towards the initiative HSE, confirmed by the Deputy head of service Andrey Kashevarov, the Association will be answered in the coming days.

Retailers themselves will define the list of products

In the project agreement no hard and fast list of products for which prices are fixed, say, two retailers who are familiar with the preparation of the document. "Networks is proposed based on the list of socially important goods and independently form basket", - says an employee of one of the retail companies.

Socially important are two dozen products: beef, pork, lamb, chickens, intact frozen fish, milk and some dairy products, sugar and salt, sunflower oil, some cereals, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, apples, etc.

While retailers freeze rates unilaterally officials told "Vedomosti", but ready to fix prices and terms with suppliers.

The sharp rise in prices at the end of 2014 brought in shops Prosecutor's investigation, and Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich has warned that the government may undertake the regulation of food prices.

Freezing retail prices at the same time all the major networks can pass without significant losses for them.

About the price freeze has already announced some of the biggest retailers: Metro Cash & Carry, "Dixie", Globus, "okay", etc. for Example, "Dixie" was recorded for the month retail prices for basic food set": buckwheat, rice, millet, pasta, sunflower oil and butter, flour, frozen fish and dumplings. Another 13 most popular products - sugar, salt, some types of cereals, flour, butter and eggs - the retailer has promised to hold a markup of 15%.