The anti-inflation basket meets its audience. Although food inflation has remained at a high level for several weeks, the system adopted by the large distribution networks generates “a real attraction” among consumers according to Thierry Cotillard. The president of the Les Mosqueteros group was the guest of the Great Interview on Monday and spoke of a “good or even very good” assessment of the operation. If Intermarché, like the rest of the distributors, lobbied Bercy to develop its own list of products, it provided 500 references, many of which were produced by Intermarché.
The owner of the Musketeers focuses in particular on meat and fish that the Intermarché itself catches thanks to its fleet of boats. “By making the pollock fillet at 6.50 euros, the monkfish at 8.50 euros, we have a breakthrough on the shelf that hadn’t existed for a year,” he underlines. And it will continue because we are going to have a roast pork at 3.50 euros this weekend.”
An “inflationary” Descrozaille law
Thierry Cotillard observes that “people come more often but consume less”: “This pressure on purchasing power means that we are piloting as close as possible. The number of items falls between 5 and 8% and when people buy, we have fewer organic products and national brands and customers go more to private brands.” He also cites basic products, which are another fast-growing category in the current context.
If Intermarché’s activity grows between 7 and 8%, Thierry Cotillard is aware that this increase is driven by inflation, the same product costs more. Which encourages him to advocate for a new round of trade negotiations while the prices of raw materials such as wheat have fallen sharply. “Last year we were forced to do three rounds of negotiations to adapt to the costs of SMEs,” he recalls.
If Bruno Le Maire announced a return to the negotiating table in June, Thierry Cotillard evokes the month of May for his part. “We are an exception to having this deadline. In other countries we can negotiate throughout the year […] But it’s going to be complicated because what industry is interested in selling its products cheaper? At 34%.
Source: BFM TV
