What began in Croatia earlier this year has now spread across the Balkans. Widespread boycotts of major retail chains—driven by public anger over rising prices—are now affecting Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and beyond.
The movement reflects deeper anxieties about inflation and corporate dominance in a region still adjusting to EU price convergence.
While retailers insist costs are driven by supply-chain pressures, consumers see profiteering at their expense.
As the boycotts stretch into late summer, they reveal a rare show of regional solidarity—one not led by governments or institutions, but by frustrated citizens at the checkout counter.