Coffee shop owners brace for inspections amid over 1 billion UAH losses from shadow coffee market

In Ukraine, budget losses due to illegal coffee sales exceed 1 billion UAH, warns MP Dmytro Hetmantsev. According to him, both markets and large retail chains are involved in cash transactions for illegal coffee, operating through individual entrepreneurs.

The main risk in this sector is wage payments: the average salary is 12,900 UAH compared to the market rate of about 22,000 UAH. Only 11% of payers comply with market wages, while nearly 20% of businesses pay below the minimum wage on average.

This situation negatively affects the country's budget and social standards, prompting upcoming intensified inspections of coffee shop owners to combat the shadow market.