2023-06-12 11:21:15
On the side of the distribution sector, we agree with the observation made by the French government which “put his finger on the problem“, underlines Dominique Michel, the CEO of Comeos, the federation of the trade and distribution sector. “The problem is industrialists, food producers and large international chains who have margins that have soared in recent months and who have not made the effort to come down when certain price numbers are expected to fall.“, explains Dominique Michel. According to the latter, traders are “destitute” in the face of multinationals in a monopoly situation for a certain number of products that traders must have in store.
So, should Belgium take inspiration from France and negotiate with manufacturers to encourage them to lower the prices of a certain number of products? On a question like that, Comeos does not say yes. “What interests me is this message to pass on to the large multinationals which are present in Belgium, to tell them you must also make an effort, otherwise the consumer will not be able to follow and the merchants will not be able to follow either“, explains Dominique Michel. According to Comeos, the margin of a trader, on a cart of 100 euros is 1.20 euros. “No one can survive with such margins”, reacts Dominique Michel.
What Bruno Le Maire is doing in France, “I hope that this will not be necessary in Belgium and that the effort will be made on a voluntary basis“, launches Dominique Michel with regard to industrialists, betting more on “awareness of the production sector before we have to go through political intervention”.
And to explain the difficult context for renegotiating contracts between stores and suppliers, manufacturers. This difficulty can be seen in certain store departments. One thinks, for example, of the Mondelez products which have been rare on the shelves of Colruyt for a month.
Moreover, the leeway for Belgian traders to obtain supplies elsewhere is reduced. “Belgian traders are not allowed to buy their products outside of Belgium at all.“, notes Dominique Michel. For the same product, the price invoiced by the supplier can vary from one country to another. “As luck would have it, the prices are much higher for Belgium“, emphasizes Dominique Michel.
And in terms of price increases, Comeos is also worried regarding the Vivaldi government’s tax reform project, which will be discussed during a conclave on the weekend of June 17 and 18. In the boxes of the Minister of Finance, there is an increase in VAT from 6 to 9% on food, with the exception of fruit and vegetables. “This is the measure that must be avoided, otherwise there will be a gigantic loss of economic activity from Belgium to France.“, believes Dominique Michel.
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