“Inflation is a slow poison for the purchasing power of households, but it is also a poison for the purchasing power of companies,” André stressed this morning on France Inter. The president of Ania then recalled that “it would be suicidal or completely stupid to play with inflation to manage companies in the agri-food sector. That is not at all what is happening,” he stated.
Prices “are in line with world commodity prices”
While acknowledging that the drop in volumes “does not help manufacturers at all”, the head of the main organization representing food processing companies (excluding cooperatives) rejects any compensation through unjustified price increases to preserve or increase their cost effectiveness.
Prices “are in line with world prices for raw materials, some of which are falling but others are still rising,” he said, citing the example of sugar, coffee or pork.
Industrialists of the sector received next Thursday by the government
On Thursday, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire announced that he would meet with Trade Minister Olivia Grégoire “next week with distributors and manufacturers to address a new point in the fight against the high cost of living.” .
For several months, the government has been pressuring powerful groups, such as Coca-Cola, Mondelez or Nestlé, to participate in efforts to curb rising prices.
Forty major brands committed against inflation
In July, Ania (National Association of Food Industries) announced that “forty” large agri-food industries had committed to making an “effort” on the price of “some 1,000 products” from the big brands.
The National Institute of Statistics measured the increase in food prices in July at 12.7% year-on-year, a strong increase, although less than in June (+13.7% year-on-year). The figures for August will be published on Thursday morning.
Source: BFM TV
