“We must expect inflation”: despite the pressure on purchasing power, the boss of Cooperative U announces price increases in the spring

As inflation reaches 3.1% and demands against the high cost of living mount, Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, announces that there will inevitably be an increase in prices next spring. “We must expect inflation at the end of the negotiations next spring,” he conceded at the microphone of Europe 1, “to take into account realities and pay farmers fairly.” The manager did not, however, put forward any figures, while Michel-Édouard Leclerc estimated inflation at 4% at the start of 2027 due to industrialists who risk asking for "increases in their prices well above 4%" at the end of the negotiations.

Price increases which annoy major retailers, with the latter threatening to boycott the first meeting to prepare for commercial negotiations this Wednesday. The large distribution brands are in fact demanding “transparency” on the costs of agricultural raw materials and differentiated treatment for SMEs. A 40% drop in fuel volumes For their part, manufacturers are on a roll.

“The cynicism of distributors exceeds decency,” said Jean-François Loiseau, president of the National Association of Food Industries (Ania). The president of the Agricultural Cooperative estimated that "a few cents (increases) can today preserve a sector, a factory, jobs and opportunities for thousands of farmers", knowing that "the best way to sustainably protect purchasing power is first of all to preserve our capacity to produce and feed the French". The manager of Cooperative U spoke of the difficulties facing large-scale distribution since the start of the school year, in particular the drop in fuel consumption due to rising prices.

“We have noted a 10% drop in fuel volume since the start of the year and, in certain stations, it is even a 40% drop,” he added. Dominique Schelcher welcomed Emmanuel Macron's announcement regarding changes to the route of demonstrations to avoid city centers. “Christmas shopping is about to begin.

If the period is disrupted, this risks putting certain companies in great difficulty". Asked about the presidential campaign, the boss declared that it was necessary "to bring the gross salary closer to the net salary" by "returning the cost of social protection expenditure" and by "shifting part of this burden to the highest VAT, not that of basic necessity". If he is not against the increase in the minimum wage proposed by the government this week, he criticizes "a burden exclusively borne by companies" then that the government is also considering reducing contribution reductions for businesses.

Machine-translated from French