In an interview with the SIOL news portal, Balažic said that "we did not demand or put strings on anything".

The statement comes after media reported that Agrokor owner Ivica Todorić visited the retailer's main suppliers requesting that they pay 10% of the revenue they generated via Mercator and Agrokor's Croatian retailer Konzum last year into a special account.

Agrokor denied the reports but unnamed suppliers, which are preparing for the start of negotiations on contracts for next year, told papers Finance and Dnevnik that it had been "suggested" to them by Agrokor to help consolidate the retail network in the region.

Balažic also said that Mercator becoming a part of the region's largest food company was an opportunity for its suppliers to boost their sales.

Of a total of 6,000 suppliers, Agrokor is currently in talks with some 100-150 biggest suppliers in the region, said Balažič.

The group also includes some 15 Slovenian companies, according to Mercator CEO, who added that the domestic suppliers were strategically important to the company.