These SMEs are long-standing and essential partners of the retail sector and help us to feed French citizens every day. Carrefour has therefore decided to provide wider support to agri-food SMEs that are being weakened due to the confinement and Covid-19 epidemic.
Carrefour has given an undertaking to a number of fish merchants to support French fishing by guaranteeing volumes and purchase prices for ten major species including mackerel, sardine, ling and whiting. Half of the output of the fisheries sector usually goes to catering businesses and their closure is having a significant impact. Carrefour is keen to provide its support and give visibility to this sector, which is vital to the French agri-food industry.
The closure of restaurants and many open-air food markets has also had a very weighty impact on small local fruit and vegetable producers who are struggling to sell their produce. At national level, Carrefour has therefore decided to source its seasonal supplies for hypermarkets from French farmers only. Strawberries, asparagus, cucumbers and tomatoes will all be sourced in France until supplies are exhausted.
At local level, many franchisees have also taken the initiative to enter into, or strengthen, partnerships with local producers to help them expand their customer base. Requests which are increasing in number by the day.
SMEs operating in the agri-foods, agricultural and fisheries sectors are experiencing a major economic downturn due to the current health crisis. Carrefour has undertaken to limit this reduction in income through practical action.