Georgian supermarket chains could free up millions of lari by introducing domestic payment systems to reduce bank card transaction fees, Retail Association head Giorgi Khabashvili said on TV-program Business Morning.
Khabashvili said the FMCG sector operates on an EBITDA margin of around 4%, while retailers pay an average 1% fee on card transactions—equivalent to roughly a quarter of sector profits.
Supermarket chains recorded GEL 5.3 billion in turnover in the first half of 2026 and paid an estimated GEL 50 million in card transaction fees, he said.
According to Khabashvili, using domestic payment systems that bypass international payment networks could reduce fees from 1% to 0.3%, freeing up around GEL 35 million for promotions, discounts and customer loyalty programs.
