INTERVIEW
If some organic products seem too expensive to consumers, it is because of the impact of their higher production costs, but also and especially margins practiced by supermarkets. This is the conclusion of a study of the UFC-Que Choisir, published Thursday. Invited from Europe 1, the association's food project manager, Olivier Andrault, detailed the results of this survey.
On organic fruit and vegetables, "the average margin is 75% higher than conventional products," says Olivier Andrault first. "And again, it's an average: when we look in detail, we see that there are certain products for which the margin is the same [as for conventional products, note ], such as onion or The most popular products are potatoes, tomatoes and apples, with margins of 89%, 109% and 149%, respectively. "
"We have calculated the impact of these 'over-margins' on the budget of an annual consumption," says the food missionary. "We realize that the annual budget of fruits and vegetables conventional is 379 euros, against 657 euros in organic and 40% of this extra cost is due to the 'sur-margin.' This is inadmissible."
"It deprives consumers of this type of products"
For the representative of the association, the report is simple: "We know that the supermarket realizes higher margins in raw products, meat, milk, fruits and vegetables, compared to industrial products, food products and food products. Grocery store in particular. (...) So, we realize the fruits and vegetables, it's the double penalty: there is a large margin because they are fruits and vegetables, but it is even higher because The impact is that it deprives consumers who want a healthier diet from this type of product. "
To obtain these results, the UFC-Que Choisir was based on "the figures that are published by the market news network, which publishes the weekly quotations, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture", explains Olivier Andrault. But a second study, based on surveys of volunteers in stores and on the Internet - also published Thursday - has also allowed the association to achieve a ranking of private labels. But for some products, organic specialty stores are "cheaper than mass retailers". And the mission manager concludes: "Our message to the consumer is: 'make the competition work!'".