Fears spread over Choppies contagion
Friday, December 20, 2019
Choppies store
The question is ringing louder in the ears of lenders, suppliers, affiliated businesses in the market and the numerous households which either have or know someone amongst Choppies’ 7,000 or so workforce.
The country’s single biggest private sector employer recently posted long awaited financial results showing a P444.5 million loss for the year ended June 30, 2018. This was shareholders and ordinary citizen’s first glimpse into the books of the troubled retail giant since April 28, 2018.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...