At Christmas, you won't find strawberries and cherries at Intermarché and that's by design

FRUITS – If you were planning to buy strawberries or cherries at Intermarché during the end-of-year holidays, this will not be possible.

The mass distribution brand Les Mousquetaires, which includes the Intermarché and Netto supermarkets, will no longer offer these red fruits for sale in December and January, in order to “promote seasonal French fruits and vegetables”.

“Intermarché and Netto are committed to stopping the national supply of strawberries and cherries to its stores for the end-of-year holidays (from December to January), thus leaving more space on the shelves for seasonal fruits and vegetables produced In France “indicates the group in a press release.

Depending on the results of this first experiment, this measure could be extended to other products with strong seasonality. “in the years to come”it is specified.

“A symbolic decision”

“It’s an impulse. Eating seasonal fruits and avoiding importing products from the other side of the world, this supports the French farm and improves the carbon footprint”explains to Figaro Thierry Cotillard, president of the Mousquetaires group.

Usually, strawberries sold in winter in supermarkets come from southern Spain or Morocco, where they are produced intensively and very often above ground. The rare cherries that can be found in France during this same period generally come from Chile or South Africa, notes BFMTV.

This remains above all “a symbolic decision, because sales weigh relatively little in value on the entire section (1% of the group's fruit and vegetable turnover, Editor's note), but if consumers follow us and others, like Leclerc or Carrefour , do the same thing, cumulatively, it will weigh”adds with West France Thierry Cotillard.

Furthermore, Intermarché wants “encourage the principle of preference for French productions”. This is why the group plans to work with 20,000 local producers within three years compared to 10,000 today, and to launch an “Intermarché Terroir” label.

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