WorldPoultry: French egg-producers want higher prices

Oct 26, 2015 135
Three regional unions of egg producers in France are demanding higher prices for their products. They accuse the big supermarkets in the country of "ignoring the revaluation that is necessary to save the production of eggs in France, which is unacceptable."

The call from the regional association of egg producers in the South-East of the country Apose and the farmers unions of Bretagne and of Rhône-Alpes coincides with the price negotiations between the large supermarkets and their suppliers, an annual ritual in France. "The supermarket companies have to adjust their pricing policy in order to keep the sector and the jobs,'' Apose says. The 2 other unions already warn for actions "if we don't get an answer soon to our legitimite demands."

According to the France egg producers, the market has found a balance thanks to their efforts to manage the production better. That has led to a price rise which is jeopardised now because of pressure from the big buyers. "Because production costs have been rising, an increasing number of producers is making a loss.'' The problems hit producers of alternative eggs harder because their production costs are even higher, the unions say.
Ruud Peys