Inflation: the organic sector urges supermarkets not to withdraw their products from the shelves

These are difficult times for the organic sector. In an open letter published Tuesday, several of their representatives accused retail brands of “disengaging from the organic market” in a context of inflation, risking “causing damage to farms and businesses.”

In statements to Leclerc, Cooperativa U, Carrefour, Auchan, Casino, Intermarché and Cora, these producers note “an increase in demand for ‘first prices'” to the detriment of organic ones, in a context of “galloping inflation”. “In this context, you, as leaders in food distribution, have a key role to play in maintaining a visible, attractive and diversified organic offer. However, we note that their brands are currently tending to withdraw from the organic market. “, they add.

For the three organizations that signed the open letter (Synabio, FOREBio and FNAB), inflation is not, however, the only cause of the recent contempt of consumers for organic products. “The development of approaches such as HVE (High Environmental Value certification, editor’s note) or Zero pesticide residues, which hijack organic label codes while being far from offering the same level of demand, creates confusion among consumers. ”, they point out. tell.

decreased sales

Synabio, FOREBio and the FNAB criticize in particular large retailers for dismantling their teams previously dedicated to organic, for drowning their products in “categories with poorly defined contours such as ‘the sustainable offer'”, or even for reducing the replacement of products . organic. They estimate this drop at 7.3% between January and September 2022.

“We run the risk of entering a vicious circle that could endanger entire sectors in a few months and jeopardize the efforts made for years by public administrations, producers and companies to go organic,” they are excited.

This situation runs the risk of causing “breakdown in farms and businesses”, since farms dedicated to organic farming need at least 3 years or even 5 years to “obtain the label”, they recall. Inflation, in particular that of food products (+12% annual in October, according to INSEE), threatens to degrade the quality of French food. Between January and June 2022, organic sales fell 6.3%.