The angry movement of farmers (Young Farmers 79 and FNSEA 79) resulted, Monday, December 9, 2024, in operations aimed at supermarkets in three towns in Deux-Sèvres.
During the day, there were 45 farmers mobilized, according to Aidan Roberts, the general secretary of JA 79, to check the origin of the products on the shelves. The Leclerc store was visited in Thouars; in Bressuire, the Leclerc, Lidl and Carrefour brands and in Niort, Intermarché, Leclerc and Grand Frais.
“Large stores don’t play the game”
“We checked the origin of the products. We don't want to import foreign products that don't have the same rules as us; This creates extraordinary unfair competition. And we would like them to put more emphasis on French products to promote them. At least, I think everyone will agree with that and it keeps the French economy going.” explains Aidan Roberts.
One copy of each product deemed undesirable was put in a rolling cart “and at the end, we dropped them off at reception to talk with the director or store manager.”
Depending on the observations on the shelves, certain brands were then entitled to a night visit, during the night from Monday to Tuesday, to block access. “We dumped tires and manure in parking lots” in Niort (Intermarché and Grand Frais) and Bressuire (Carrefour, Lidl and Intermarché). “We had already come in February 2024 and we had warned them. In some brands, we have seen no or very little change. »
“The rest will be after the holidays”
Conversely, some stores were spared from manure deposits such as Leclerc de Thouars. “They did their job perfectly. They made the effort to change all their ranges to have predominantly French products and to highlight them. This shows that it is possible in Deux-Sèvres to achieve this; it’s just that the big stores don’t play the game.”
What should we expect next? “For the moment, there is no action planned by JA 79 and FNSEA 79. I think that the rest will be after December 31, after the holidays. There is nothing planned between now and then,” says Aidan Roberts.
