The blow is severe for the 5.4 million French people holding meal vouchers: from January 1, 2025, no more food shopping with your precious sesame. Gone are the days of pasta, rice, oil and other basic products that you could previously slip into your shopping cart. The reason? A political imbroglio that leaves a bitter taste for consumers.
This restriction marks a brutal return to the original rules after several years of flexibility. The timing is particularly bad since it comes in a context where inflation continues to weigh on household purchasing power. The exceptional exemption, put in place in 2022 to relieve the French in the face of soaring prices, was initially to be extended until the end of 2026. But why such a turnaround?
A censorship that turns everything upside down
On November 20, the National Assembly urgently adopted the extension of the system. But that was without taking into account the motion of censure which overthrew the Barnier government on December 4, bringing a sudden halt to all legislative work in progress. “A direct consequence of censorship for nearly 6 million French people“, deplores the resigning Secretary of State, who confirms the impossibility of using meal vouchers for non-directly consumable food shopping from January 2025.
Don’t throw away your meal vouchers though. You will still be able to use them, but only for their primary purpose: the purchase of ready-to-eat products. Sandwiches, prepared salads, ready meals will remain accessible. A small consolation for teleworkers who have become accustomed to optimizing their shopping budget thanks to this system.
War of the lobbies
This situation crystallizes tensions between the different players in the sector. On the one hand, traditional restaurateurs, who estimate that they have lost nearly 500 million euros to supermarkets since the expansion of the system. “The meal voucher has become a shopping cart voucher”they denounce, while pleading for a complete overhaul of the system.
On the other hand, large retailers are pushing for a rapid return to the current situation. “Consumer habits have changed”argues Layla Rahhou, general delegate of the Federation of Commerce and Distribution, to the Parisian. “Between teleworking and the shortened lunch break, employees need this flexibility to prepare their meals at a lower cost.”
Behind the scenes, another debate is raging: that of the commissions charged by the issuers of meal vouchers. “They are around 4%, compared to 0.5% for a traditional bank card”, protested a representative of the restaurateurs. “And they will increase again next year. Even the Bank of France is surprised.”
Uncertain future
Industry players are trying to be reassuring. “We are confident that the next government and Parliament will find a solution in the very short term”says the general manager of Edenred France. But be careful: some experts warn of a possible domino effect. The National Commission for Meal Vouchers is even worried about a possible calling into question of the entire system if it strays too far from its initial vocation. The end of restaurant vouchers for shopping could only be a first disappointment…
- From January 1, 2025, it is impossible to use meal vouchers to buy unprepared food products in supermarkets
- Censorship by the Barnier government prevented the vote on the extension of the expanded system
- Only ready-to-eat products (sandwiches, salads, prepared meals) will remain accessible with meal vouchers
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