בעל רשת המזון חושף: "זה לא ייאמן", פערים של 50 %

Ilan Segev, owner of the Bikurei Sadeh group and the Shuk Ha'Ir supermarket chain, has revealed significant price discrepancies in imported food products. Segev stated that after beginning to import food items directly from abroad, he discovered price gaps of up to 50% between the foreign manufacturers' prices and the prices demanded by local Israeli importers. He explained that this direct import strategy allows his chain to significantly lower prices for consumers, with most of the price difference previously remaining with the importers.

Shuk Ha'Ir is now importing products such as oil, rice, sugar, tuna, and canned goods directly from overseas suppliers under the Bikurei Sadeh brand. The chain has also launched its own private label, Sis 7, for cleaning and toiletries. This move into direct import is part of a broader strategy led by brothers Ilan and Shai Segev, who now manage Shuk Ha'Ir's daily operations and trade policy.

The chain currently operates 16 branches and plans to expand to 40. Two new stores are already planned: one in western Rishon LeZion, approximately 1,000 square meters, and another in Modi'in, around 1,700 square meters, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027. These openings will bring the total to 18 branches.

This management change follows a September deal where the Segev brothers, as controlling shareholders of Bikurei Sadeh, acquired the 10% of Shuk Ha'Ir shares previously held by former CEO Rafi Steinberg, their brother-in-law. The transaction was valued at approximately 17.2 million shekels, reflecting a 172 million shekel valuation for the chain. The deal faced scrutiny from the Israel Securities Authority and institutional investors due to it being a related-party transaction.

Following the deal, Alex Lokotkin, formerly CFO of Bikurei Sadeh, was appointed Deputy CEO of Shuk Ha'Ir. In the first half of the year, Shuk Ha'Ir reported food sales of 340 million shekels and an operating profit of 2.5 million shekels.