Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family bought NIS 100,000 of groceries and household products from Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikma Marketing 2006 Ltd. (TASE:RMLI) in 2012 - a monthly average of NIS 8,300. The contract with the supermarket was signed several years ago, and will continue this year, without a tender.
Rami Levy Chain Stores CEO Rami Levy told "Globes" that he was unaware that there was an exemption from a tender, or whether the Prime Minister's Residence would continue to buy from him this year. Levy is an enthusiastic supporter of the Likud, the prime minister's party.
"They bought last year, but about this year, I don’t know," he said. "But do know why they began buying from me? Because three years ago, there was an article in the Jerusalem local paper that criticized Netanyahu for not buying at Rami Levy, which was the cheapest, and preferred stores in Rehavia." The Prime Minister's Residence is located in the prestigious Jerusalem neighborhood of Rehavia.
"Globes": Isn't NIS 8.300 a month a bit much?
Levy: "We have families which spend NIS 10,000 a month."
The Prime Minister's Residence declined to comment on the report.
Netanyahu was lambasted in February, when the media reported that the Prime Minister's Residence spent NIS 10,000 a month on ice cream. In response, Netanyahu cancelled the contract with the local ice cream parlor.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 2, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013