Maximilien Carlier // Photo credit: Europe 1 6:47 a.m., February 6, 2024
Anger is still rising among farmers, particularly among dairy farmers who work for the Lactalis group. They are demanding fairer remuneration and respect for Egalim laws. After a blockage at their factory near Douai on Monday, breeders went to a hypermarket. There, they withdrew the industrial giant's products.
Shelves emptied and shopping carts filled with milk, butter, cheese, yogurt… All of the Lactalis brand and sometimes, on promotion. This disgusts farmers, who came to demonstrate in a hypermarket in Douai, in the north of France, like Ludovic, a dairy farmer.
“If we are not listened to, we will dump more products in other hypermarkets”
"It annoys us a little, because we have nothing more and they are just doing business. After all, they are brand products, but it is especially when we see the prices that "We are disgusted. Milk from the Lactel brand costs 1.26 euros, while we receive 40 cents. There is a small distribution problem," explains the breeder.
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5 cents more per liter, compliance with the Egalim law… These are the measures that breeders are asking for. But nothing satisfying their request, they decide to respond in their own way. A sticker, which says "thief", is affixed to each product by Emmanuel, also a producer. "The goal is to say things in a strong way. Otherwise, it won't make the industry or the consumer think," he explains.
This symbolic action lasted almost an hour while waiting for negotiations to resume with Lactalis management. “But if we are not listened to, we will dump more products in other hypermarkets,” warn the breeders.