Norfos Dundulis owner: even in the scariest dream I could not dream of the current scenario

“Today, the pandemic situation is forecast to be at least a few weeks ahead. Before that, I was so scared that I didn’t even know what would happen tomorrow,” he said of the economic situation in the country.

In an interview, a Delfi interlocutor also shared concerns about uncollected budget revenue.

“It may not close” (balance – Delphi), – said Dundulis. “This will be a problem for the next government.”

– According to Sodra, wages at Norfa Retail increased in April compared to March, but did you not make any changes to the payment system? There was just more work, and therefore higher wages, right?

– Partly yes, but there were changes. We have increased the labor cost ratio for ATMs by 15%.

– Will he be here temporarily or permanently?

– Honestly, I don’t know. If the rotation is maintained, we will maintain it. If financial possibilities allow, we will continue to do so.

– Do you see changes with the rotation of the store?

– It really increased in March and decreased in April. Now it is completely back to that state of the year. Then we had a carpet. It is the same as in January.

– Still not feeling the crisis?

– In my opinion, if people’s incomes decrease, so will their expenses. In March and April, people panicked at the food shortage. As a result, those turnovers have increased, and in May there is nothing but panic. Revenue is falling, as are costs anyway. These are market games. You may want to do anything, but the reality is this.

– What assets are usually rejected in such a situation?

– What people no longer buy, we reject. In 2009 experience, the sale of more expensive goods is declining.

– Not here by segments? Only if there is an expensive cheese like cheese, do you buy it already?

– Yes, there is a “top” in each group, which buys less during the recession. However, no significant changes have yet been seen.

– Is there enough work? Do you need to work overtime in stores?

– That’s enough. There was an increase in demand before, but now the situation has returned to normal. It is true that we face many employees in the newsletters. Then all of a sudden you can’t accept something in the newsletter because it will come back and you will have a surplus of staff. Then you have to deal with what it is.

– Those newsletters were about childcare, right?

– With childcare, but we know very well that one call was enough and the doctors issued a bulletin. We had around 150 employees in the newsletters more than is usually the case at the time.

– Can Norfai have difficulties if predictions about the crisis come true? Do you have “fat”?

– I had a really difficult period in 2008-9. I was preparing for a crisis, but even in my most terrifying dream, I couldn’t dream of the current scenario. Anyway, we have made the preparations. The answer is that everything is financially stable with us.

– It is still important for you to maintain a certain level of consumption and here the government can take action. How do you evaluate your efforts on the economic front?

– We do not demand support, we have neither need nor desire. I really don’t know how that support is implemented. I only know what is in public space.

However, I see that we have exactly the same scenario as in 2008. Then, at the end of the year, one government (the government of Gediminas Kirkilas) left and another (the government of Andrius Kubilius) came. Initially, all pensions and benefits increased, and the new government that came in 2009 found an empty budget.

Current actions remind me of those times. As the President said, he took off the helicopter to disperse money, only the door has not yet been opened. After that we will see that we have nothing left.

I still do not understand: the Ministry of Finance said that in April it did not raise 30 percent. Planned Income You are now missing about $ 300 million. euros Let’s not be naive, it will be the same in May. The remaining 9 months, multiplied by 300 million, cost 2.7 billion. euros

No cost reductions are planned. That is even if you borrow $ 5 billion. about half will go to patch the budget hole, and another $ 2.5 billion. Euros have already been promised. It may not “close”.

– This will already be a problem for the next government.

– Indeed. This will already be a problem for the next Government. Frankly, I really don’t want to skate on those hills. Now we go up the mountain and everything seems to be in order and then we leave it with full acceleration? I really don’t want that.

– What are Norfa’s plans for this year? Wait until the situation clears up or are you already taking action?

– Today, the pandemic situation is planned for at least a few weeks ahead. Before that, I was so scared that I didn’t even know what was going to happen tomorrow.

But what will be behind a month or a few, I would not dare to predict. Of course, we will live anyway, everything will be, but I don’t know about the economic situation. Maybe everything will be fine.

We ourselves have planned five store renovations in the fall. We are not giving them up yet.

We are currently completing five new stores, there is already a loading stage. We will definitely finish them, i. and. We will open in Lentvaris for 10 days, in Nemenčinė, Šiauliai for one month, and in Joniškis and Panevėžys for 2 months.

For new stores, we do not have any building permits. This is automatically resolved for us, there is nothing to think about. Admittedly, we plan to obtain multiple building permits in the fall. Then we will see what the situation will be.