This Monday, November 4, the Les Mousquetaires group – which owns Intermarché and Netto – announced that its mass distribution brands will no longer sell strawberries and cherries from December to January. The reason? “Promote seasonal French fruits and vegetables” during this holiday season. So obviously, the measure is symbolic. But the group assures that this could be extended to other products with strong seasonality “in the years to come”based on this first test.
Alongside this measure are 7 others: twice as many products from local producers on the shelves; launch of the “Intermarché terroirs” label; supporting the wine industry in France; develop new products that ensure transparency and fair remuneration for producers; supporting dairy farmers; strengthen contractualization with the sectors; call for transparency in negotiations with producers. But on social networks, it is indeed the removal of red fruits from the shelves in the heart of winter that is hitting the mark.
As Le Figaro points out in its columns, the sale of cherries and strawberries “represents only 1% of the turnover of the distributor whose annual supply of foreign fruits and vegetables is around 30%.”. So certainly, these sales have relatively little value in the entire fruit and vegetable section.“But if consumers follow us and others, like Leclerc or Carrefour, do the same thing, cumulatively, this will weigh”declares Thierry Cotillard, president of the Mousquetaires, to Ouest-France. The carbon footprint will thus be lower, and French producers will benefit.
“Fruits and vegetables are good when they are in season.”
Faced with this measure, which will take effect this winter, the first customers are delighted. “It's about time! Fruits and vegetables are good when they're in season”says an Internet user on X. “Yes, it’s heresy to sell strawberries at Christmas”assures another. Especially since this season, the strawberries sold in supermarkets are imported from the south of Spain or Morocco, countries where they are very often produced above ground. Cherries generally come from Chile or South Africa. “Long live chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and apples” from the middle of autumn! Because more seriously, “Who wants to eat cherries at Christmas?”
For many Internet users, this measure launched by the group Les Mousquetaires “is just normal”. “No more strawberries and cherries in winter… FINALLY! And to think we have to wait until 2024 to see that! Well done and thank you”exclaims an Internet user on X. “It’s about time”, “very nice initiative”. And so many people think that it is “Just common sense”some don't seem to entirely agree with this idea.
“I am definitely boycotting Intermarché.”
“And the wine is in season? And the fuel sold at Intermarché, is it French? Well, I’ll eat Spanish strawberries”growls an Internet user on social networks. “Cool. But I’ll go elsewhere for my strawberries,” assures another. “Well… France is beautiful. We're going to live like beggars under the guise of saving the planet while others develop.”
On X, many are protesting against the announcement of this new measure. “On the other hand, Argentinian beef, Ukrainian chicken, New Zealand lamb… We must stop the nonsense… Why not simply say that strawberries grown in greenhouses and cherries imported from South America are not profitable ?” So just a question of profitability? At least that's what some customers think. “Strawberries and cherries are not profitable in winter. They will sell mangoes or lychees without asking ideological questions”we can read on X. “I am definitely boycotting Intermarché.” This is what is said.
