This sanction comes in the context of tense trade negotiations between large retailers and the food industry.

These annual negotiations, which end at the end of February, determine the price of products sold in supermarkets for the coming year.

The sign is sanctioned because of a lack of traceability in "the contracts signed in France by a large number of its suppliers" during previous rounds of commercial negotiations.

The lack of transparency related to the sums paid by suppliers to an international purchasing center "for commercial cooperation services", said Bercy.

The purchasing centers concerned are AgeCore (Switzerland), which Intermarché left in 2021, and ITM Belgium, specifies the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) on its website.

The distributor can appeal this decision, but the appeal will not suspend the fine, which follows an investigation by the DGCCRF.

Intermarché had already been sued in February 2021 for "abusive commercial practices" by its international purchasing groups, in particular AgeCore.

The government had asked the courts for a penalty of 150.75 million euros, on which the Paris Commercial Court has not yet ruled.

Bercy also indicated on Tuesday that three large retailers, whose identity has not been revealed, are the subject of the attention of the DGCCRF regarding their practices in terms of logistics penalties.

The latter are pecuniary penalties imposed by large retail groups on their suppliers in the event of services deemed insufficient.

“The findings of the DGCCRF investigators have highlighted an imbalance in the practices” of a brand in this area, via the “absence of proof sent to the supplier to establish the merits of the penalties issued”, or the “deduction automatically the amount of the penalties issued even if they are disputed by the supplier" for example.

This brand will therefore be targeted by an “injunction procedure under penalty” on one of its regional purchasing centers, so that it ceases its practices “within three months”.

Otherwise, "it will be subject to the payment of a fine for each day of delay", according to Bercy.

The two other brands whose identity has not been revealed are the subject of "enhanced investigations" in this area.

If they “confirm the suspicions of illicit practices, procedures will be initiated against them”.

© 2022 AFP