Farmers’ anger, inflation… High-tension talks last hours between big retailers and key suppliers

New ads amid outrage from agriculture world? These are the last hours of negotiations for major retailers and their suppliers: professionals have until midnight on Wednesday, January 31, to sign a one-year contract. Negotiations are under pressure amid demonstrations by farmers – who are waiting for a signal from distributors – and Bersi expectations – which hope to lower prices on shelves – after two years of high inflation.

So it will be a long day for the negotiators: more than 80% of the agreements have not been signed. It is not easy to find common ground between the manufacturers who want an increase of between 3 and 5% and the big retailers who want the same thing, but in the form of a reduction.

Increase over 10% for specific references

We should reach a range of -1 to +1% except for certain grain-based products, for example pasta. Their shelf price should drop by 5 to 10% as world prices return to their pre-war levels in Ukraine.

But it will also increase and be cruel to consumers, experts warn. More than 10%: olive oil, rice or orange-based products. But on average, at about 40,000 references in supermarkets, prices should rise by 2 to 5%. This is incredible with an increase of 20% in the last two years. However, there is no question of finding 2021 prices before inflation.