Meeting postponed due to scheduling conflict

The meeting between food industry manufacturers and distributors, originally planned for Wednesday at Bercy, has been moved to November 2nd, according to the minister of Commerce’s office. The delay is due to a scheduling conflict, as the ministers involved—Serge Papin for Commerce and Annie Genevard for Agriculture—needed to attend the Council of Ministers on Wednesday morning, which has been rescheduled.

Distributors demand transparency

Major distributors like Leclerc, Carrefour, and Intermarché had threatened to boycott the meeting unless manufacturers agreed to be more transparent. The Federation of Commerce and Distribution (FCD), which represents these companies, stated it would not participate in the preparation committee until two key requirements were met: transparency on agricultural raw material costs and special treatment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Industry criticizes distributor demands

The government’s proposed "responsibility pact" has been met with criticism from the National Association of Food Industries (Ania). Its president, Jean-François Loiseau, called the distributors’ stance "cynical" and accused them of ignoring the increased costs faced by food companies since the Middle East crisis began. He questioned the legitimacy of their demands.

Annual price negotiations set to be tense

Every year between December 1st and March 1st, supermarkets and food suppliers negotiate pricing agreements that determine the prices of most products on store shelves. These talks are often intense and have been criticized for putting pressure on farmers’ wages. With the 2026-2027 season expected to be especially difficult and inflation likely, the government aimed to bring together all parties early to establish a "responsibility pact."