After the significant decline in inflation, observed since the start of 2024, consumers expected an effective drop in prices at shelf level. According to Michel-Édouard Leclerc, this will not be the case. The president of the Leclerc group is radical: a return to pre-covid 19 prices is not possible for the moment.
« All the inflation that was taken in the previous three years, it's in someone's pocket or it went into someone's investment, and it won't come back as a -20% bonus or – 30% within three months which comes into the consumer's pocket “, he declared on the show Grand Jury RTL-M6-Le Figaro-Public Senate. He therefore confirms that no price reduction is expected for the moment, while expressing his desire to work towards a reduction through future negotiations.
« A period of negotiations will begin for which we are in the process of receiving prices from major suppliers. All price requests are on the rise. Obviously, I can tell you, on the strength of Leclerc, that we are going to seek reductions, particularly in sectors where things have soared. “, he assured. However, he explains that we should not expect significant price declines, particularly on products which have seen sharp increases.
Michel Edouard Leclerc opposes the increase in the soda tax
Following his time on the set of Grand JuryMichel Edouard Leclerc expressed his reluctance regarding the increase in the soda tax. “It is the State which is obese, we know very well that this will not serve health, it is to plug the holes”he denounced. According to the president of the Leclerc group, the government is more interested in tax revenue than in the danger that sugar represents for health. “I am for fighting obesity, including putting your hand in your pocket. But these taxes go to the state budget and are not allocated. It's all bullshit.” he added.
Voted in the Senate, a new soda tax scale provides, as a reminder, a targeted increase on drinks that contain a significant quantity of sugar. Concretely, this tax will increase from 3.79 euros per hectoliter currently to 4 euros for manufacturers on products containing less than 5 kg of sugar. On the other hand, it will be doubled on products containing more than 8 kg of added sugar. It will therefore increase from 17.70 euros to 35 euros from January 1, 2025. For products with a sugar content between 5 and 8 kg, the tax will be tripled from 7.30 euros to 21 euros.
