To respond to the anger of farmers, should we establish floor prices, as proposed by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, pointing out the weakness of their income?
Michel-Édouard Leclerc, guest this Sunday March 24 on the BFM Politique show, answers rather yes.
“Everyone criticizes, but that’s what everyone asks for in agriculture,” declared the president of the strategic committee of the large-scale distribution group.
Referring to two types of agriculture in France, “agribusiness and family farming”, he explained: “The first need to be boosted, the second to be protected”.
“Everyone has criticized Emmanuel Macron, but when the farmer says:
I want to cover my production costs, my energy costs
, that’s still what he’s asking,” assures the boss of the renowned brand for its low prices, even if he judges that “the wording, legally, is not valid”.
Also read How much do farmers earn?
“Very significant differences even within the same sector”
The idea put forward by Emmanuel Macron during the last Agricultural Show in February aroused the disapproval of the main agricultural union, the FNSEA, and surprise within the government itself.
The draft orientation law for agricultural sovereignty must be presented on March 29 to the Council of Ministers.
“We are going to take advantage of our margins”
On the subject of the “enormous anxiety” of consumers, perceived in the supermarket shelves, Michel-Édouard Leclerc also promised “pockets of reductions” in prices which will concern “hundreds of products”, particularly in the arts departments of the table, textiles, Christmas toys (excluding license).
But there will be many others, he announces: “In the competition that we engage in
(with other brands)
, we will also take on our margins.
» Announcing the return to inflation “at 2 or 3%” in France in 2024, he described the entry into a cycle of “more structural inflation, over ten years”: “We are entering a more virtuous cycle on the ecological plan, but which costs more to produce.
»
In February, price increases fell to 2.9% year-on-year, compared to 3.1% in January.
Concerning food inflation in particular, it also experienced a deceleration to 3.6% year-on-year after 5.7% in January.
“BFM Politique”, every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on BFMTV.
A meeting in partnership with Le Parisien - Today in France.