Consumers have launched a campaign under the slogan “Let it rot” to boycott dairy producers who have increased the prices of laban and other milk products. Although the campaign targets dairy producers, consumers are angry with the price rise of most of the commodities of daily consumption. With Ramadan around the corner, the prices of consumer items have gone up manifold. Recently Al-Safi, the second largest dairy company in the country, followed Almarai Dairy Company when it increased the price of two liters of laban from SR7 to SR8. Meanwhile, the Saudi per capita food consumption is expected to increase by 31.24 percent by 2014, Riyadh Exhibitions Company (REC) Project Manager, Khalid Daou, said Saturday quoting a Business Monitor International (BMI) report. The Kingdom with a population of 28 million has remained the largest market for food and beverage in the Gulf region. The country represents 63 percent of the $9 billion GCC food market. The producers claim the price hikes are necessary because of the increasing cost of raw materials, including a 60 percent rise in fodder, soya beans and plastic. Dr. Nasser Al-Tweam, President of the Consumer Protection Association said, “Caliph Omar Bin Al-Khattab came up with the golden Islamic principle of a boycott when Muslims complained to him about soaring prices.” He said the application of the Caliph's principle of boycotting these products will ensure a positive result for consumers. He advised consumers to gradually boycott these products until the Ministry of Commerce and Industry “names-and-shames” these merchants by publishing their names in the media. Intisar Al-Qahtani, an economic expert, said the unbridled price rise raises questions about the role of the Consumer Protection Association, which she feels does not represent the interests of consumers at all. – With input from Shahid Ali Khan and Muhammad Al
