2023-05-17 20:35:00
The industrial giants were under pressure from the French government to return to the negotiating table to lower prices.
By PM with AFP
© XOSE BOUZAS / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
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SUnder pressure from the government, the French industrial giants agreed on Wednesday to reopen negotiations with distributors early, with a view to lowering the price of products on the shelves from the summer, in a context of inflation that is still very high. Convened Wednesday morning in Bercy, the representatives of Ania, the main representative body of the sector, and Ilec, which carries the voice of the industrialists of the major national brands, took a step in the direction of the government, which has been asking them since a few weeks to lower the selling price of their yogurts, shampoos or spreads in supermarkets.
“We are committed before the end of May to the “Top 75″, the 75 largest consumer product companies in France, returning to the negotiating table,” the president told AFP. de l’Ania, Jean-Philippe André, at the end of this meeting with the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, the Minister Delegate for Industry, Roland Lescure and Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in particular for Trade.
READ ALSOShould we favor frozen vegetables and fruits?These industrial giants are concerned when they have “experienced a drop in the cost of one of their inputs, affecting the price of production, of more than 20% since March 1, 2023”, and that they have obtained more 10% increase in their prices during the last negotiations, specify Ania and Ilec in a press release. The other manufacturers will also be able to return to the negotiating table of their own free will.
SMEs not concerned
Each year, the prices of products sold to supermarkets are set after a period of negotiation. That for 2023, completed on March 1, resulted in an average increase of around 10% in the prices paid by brands to manufacturers. The latter have been calling for price increases for months to take into account the increase in their production costs (energy, transport, raw materials, packaging, etc.). But since then, the costs of certain agricultural raw materials or energy have tended to stabilize or even fall.
The government had therefore been asking for price reductions for several weeks, and had brandished the tax threat on the “undue margins” of manufacturers if no action was taken. Questioned on Wednesday on the sidelines of a trip, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire welcomed this freshly found agreement: “This is excellent news for consumers”, he said.
READ ALSOAutism: is the silent hour in supermarkets effective?“That means that prices will be renegotiated downwards in advance, so we can break the inflationary spiral – as we have committed to – by next fall on food prices,” he said. valorize. Manufacturers have agreed, on the other hand, “to strengthen commercial promotions” to contribute to an immediate price drop on the shelves, indicated Ania and Ilec.
These renegotiations will take place under the worried eye of farmers, who still fear that price wars will be to the detriment of their own income. “As promised, these renegotiations will not concern SMEs, and will not impact farmers”, hammered Olivia Grégoire, welcoming Wednesday in a tweet “the spirit of responsibility” of large industrialists.
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