The Delegate Minister of Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, detailed this Tuesday the Government’s support plan for tobacconists, amounting to 290 million euros, in an interview published on the website of the voice of the north.
This plan “which I will sign on Thursday with the president of the tobacconists’ confederation foresees 290 million euros in five years”, announces Mr. Attal in the columns of the regional newspaper.
It is a continuation of the Transformation Fund created between 2018 and 2022 and endowed with 100 million euros. The endowment of 20 million euros per year is also renewed from this year until 2027. Added to this is 15 million euros per year to help the profession “insure” itself against theft and violent acts.
illicit tobacco trade
Tobacconists will also earn more per pack of cigarettes sold:
To fight against illicit tobacco trafficking, 45 million euros have been released for the purchase of 22 scanners “which will be directed to postal parcel centers or containers in ports such as Dunkirk, which has been greatly affected by the increase in traffic”, as well as about 200 license plate readers, adds Mr. Attal.
The approximately 23,500 tobacconists in the territory, whose network employs 80,000 people, achieved 44 billion euros in sales in 2021, including 21.6 billion tobacco products.
Forced to diversify in the face of the inexorable drop in their income in a context of declining smoking, they seek to reduce their dependence on the tobacco sales activity. The tobacconists “have become essential liaison points for public service missions”, stressed Mr. Attal. They “allow the payment of bills, the purchase of train tickets, they serve as postal relays…”, he continued.
Source: BFM TV
