Margaux Fodéré / Photo credits: Benjamin Polge / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 6:42 a.m., February 7, 2024
A few days before the opening of the Salon de l'Agriculture, Carrefour has decided to cancel its visit to the largest event in France. For several weeks, mass distribution brands have been singled out from all sides.
Very discreet since the start of the agricultural crisis, are the players in mass distribution feeling the wind turning? This is what emerges from the speeches of recent days. Leclerc and Système U are preparing to receive summons from Bercy for non-compliance with the Egalim law.
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And if two major retail brands were to be among the exhibitors at the Salon de l'Agriculture at the end of the month, one of them preferred to cancel its appearance: Carrefour. If the group claims that its presence was simply an avenue for reflection, according to information from Europe 1, Carrefour had indeed reserved a stand at the Salon de l'Agriculture (SIA). And in the middle of the farmers' movement a few days ago, he preferred to give up.
Lidl, the only distribution brand present at SIA 2024
For this sixtieth edition, only one brand will be displayed at the Porte de Versailles: Lidl. The brand is present for the ninth consecutive year. "There have never been any problems and we will continue to be there. Because it is important to me. When we started, we had a lot of damage in our stores. So, we said: we will go at the agricultural show, and we are going to discuss with the agricultural world. And that's where we listened to their problems, their constraints, and we put in place tripartite contracts, we got closer to the agricultural world ", explains Michel Biero, president of Lidl France.
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If Lidl wants to discuss, other major brands have been keeping a low profile for several days, because their ears are getting hot.
“That says a lot”
Of the 1,000 contracts signed at the end of recent commercial negotiations and controlled by Bercy services, 124 do not comply with the Egalim law. On their own, Leclerc and Système U admit it: they expect to receive summons.
For the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, this is an admission on their part. "It's still curious. That is to say, people come and tell us: 'in fact we didn't tell you, but we knew we were committing fraud. We prefer to tell you as if it were half forgiven. That says a lot anyway,” he explains.
Among the major brands, only one seems calm, that is Intermarché. His boss Thierry Cotillard has already spoken out in favor of a tightening of the Egalim law. According to information from Europe 1, he plans to attend the show from February 24.