mysty
Member
Posts: 1,322
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Post by mysty on Jan 25, 2024 21:40:58 GMT 1
Omegal,they could get the public behind them by telling them to stop shopping at the supermarkets that are not paying them a fair price. In the past when the supermarkets brought in cheaper products from other countries they did not let the trucks unload or a bit more extreme they used to torch lambs coming from the UK but your going back a few years for that.
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curtis
Member
Charente Maritime
Posts: 477
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Post by curtis on Jan 25, 2024 21:50:03 GMT 1
I believe some trucks have been stopped and searched for imported food. Not sure of the rest of the story for the moment.
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Post by houpla on Jan 25, 2024 23:01:44 GMT 1
The last I heard, they were on their way to Brax, near Agen, to stop SuperU lorries from unloading imported goods. A load of manure was dumped on the Agen Leclerc entrance roof, causing the roof to collapse and so effectively closing the store. But who will be paying the price for all this? Not the supermarkets that's for sure! God knows they don't need much of an excuse to hike prices.
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,693
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Post by exile on Jan 25, 2024 23:06:34 GMT 1
One thing I learnt some 40 years ago at a marketing course is understanding where the power lies. The example given happened to involve 2 then major French firms - Auchan, then probably the leader in hypermarkets and Perrier then certainly the leader in mineral water. Auchan wrote to all of its suppliers with a demand for support: Times are hard and therefore we will be extending our payment terms from 60 days after receipt of goods to 90 days ( so effectively taking 3 months credit). All of their suppliers accepted these new imposed terms of business because they felt they could not afford to not be on Auchan's shelves. That is all except Perrier. They wrote back, times are indeed hard so our payment terms are now reduced to 30 days. Auchan paid up. They could not afford to not have Perrier on the shelves.
So how does this relate to the current situation? Well I think the supermarkets have and have had the power. The farmers can only gain the power if the public (or just possibly the government) were to back them heavily. I doubt the government will want to get involved if they can avoid it. Further I cannot see how blockading motorways is going to gain that public support.
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Post by omegal on Jan 25, 2024 23:45:45 GMT 1
Omegal,they could get the public behind them by telling them to stop shopping at the supermarkets that are not paying them a fair price. In the past when the supermarkets brought in cheaper products from other countries they did not let the trucks unload or a bit more extreme they used to torch lambs coming from the UK but your going back a few years for that. It's not a case of just one brand of supermarket they would need to tell to stop but all, so all familes, well almost all need milk for a start, you can't tell them not to buy milk fgs. Your second point shows what the farmers fear, cheaper imports so they are defending their job and families. I can only repeat, how many people when living in the UK used to think how good it was that the French stood up for their beliefs but has that changed for some of those that have moved to France?
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Post by houpla on Jan 26, 2024 8:15:23 GMT 1
Well I think the supermarkets have and have had the power. The farmers can only gain the power if the public (or just possibly the government) were to back them heavily. I doubt the government will want to get involved if they can avoid it. Further I cannot see how blockading motorways is going to gain that public support. Well the French government certainly does see fit to get involved when it comes to enshrining in law that supermarkets can't sell at a loss, can only have sales during defined periods etc. So now it's time for them to intervene and curtail the obscene profits they make. A melon grower gets 0.20c per fruit (that has cost 0.80c to produce). The supers sell them for €2.50/ piece. As omegal said above, many growers have no choice but to sell in bulk to grossistes (middlemen) which reduces still further the price paid. Selling direct to the public depends on their being accessible and having someone available to staff a point-of-sale.
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Post by cernunnos on Jan 26, 2024 9:34:54 GMT 1
The farmers are upset because of the new constraints in the new PAC that has just come into force. Also consumers want cheaper and cheaper food , so the " grand surfaces " give it to them ! Buy local and pay more, then the farmers would get better prices, don't buy veg from Africa or S. America , only in season veg. Don't buy any out of season products. See the discussion about the price of cauliflower on this site!!!
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 5,046
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Post by Nifty on Jan 26, 2024 9:41:26 GMT 1
It was only a matter of time.
I have had a blockade for a lifetime. Until about five minutes ago. I never realised how grocers got their name. Ted remains a mystery.
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Post by houpla on Jan 26, 2024 9:56:56 GMT 1
Also consumers want cheaper and cheaper food , so the " grand surfaces " give it to them ! Buy local and pay more, then the farmers would get better prices, don't buy veg from Africa or S. America , only in season veg. You are joking,yes? The grands surfaces buy cheap and sell with huge mark-ups. Even markets have massively marked-up prices as most of the produce has arrived via the Marché d'Interet National, a centrale where growers sell to middlemen who then sell to stallholders. It's the middlemen who get the profit, everytime. You're spot on about buying local, though. Just make sure that wherever possible you're buying direct from the producer. Trouble is, we all expect to eat bananas and avocados all year round, have got used to the 'perfect' produce on offer in supermarkets and just don't realise how much power the supermarket chains wield.
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Nifty
Member
Posts: 5,046
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Post by Nifty on Jan 26, 2024 10:17:52 GMT 1
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Post by cernunnos on Jan 26, 2024 10:41:55 GMT 1
Also consumers want cheaper and cheaper food , so the " grand surfaces " give it to them ! Buy local and pay more, then the farmers would get better prices, don't buy veg from Africa or S. America , only in season veg. You are joking,yes? The grands surfaces buy cheap and sell with huge mark-ups. Even markets have massively marked-up prices as most of the produce has arrived via the Marché d'Interet National, a centrale where growers sell to middlemen who then sell to stallholders. It's the middlemen who get the profit, everytime. You're spot on about buying local, though. Just make sure that wherever possible you're buying direct from the producer. Trouble is, we all expect to eat bananas and avocados all year round, have got used to the 'perfect' produce on offer in supermarkets and just don't realise how much power the supermarket chains wield. I am not joking , just writing from experience . I agree with "Trouble is, we all expect to eat bananas and avocados all year round, have got used to the 'perfect' produce on offer in supermarkets and just don't realise how much power the supermarket chains wield."
The customers have the power over the supermarkets , but want cheap !!!! BTW , I don't eat bananas.
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Post by limousinlady on Jan 26, 2024 11:49:49 GMT 1
Is there somewhere that we can look up where the blockades are? We need to get to Bordeaux airport tomorrow morning from North of Limoges and can build in extra time/plan a different route if we know. Thanks.
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curtis
Member
Charente Maritime
Posts: 477
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Post by curtis on Jan 26, 2024 11:55:58 GMT 1
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Aardvark
Non-gamer
Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
Posts: 2,172
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Post by Aardvark on Jan 26, 2024 12:04:41 GMT 1
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Post by limousinlady on Jan 26, 2024 12:42:39 GMT 1
curtis, @ aardvark - Thank you
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