On the occasion of a bill, the Inside Track collective, which brings together leaders of mass distribution, offers their professional view on this measure which they consider both desirable and feasible.
The purpose of the bill presented to the Assembly and the Senate ? Establish a permanent and diversified offering of health-promoting foods in stores, offered in a basket at cost price. The text provides for at least three foodstuffs per food group concerned and at least 80 references over the year, with a total number fixed by decree. “100 products” designates the claim at the origin of the initiative carried by Foodwatch, Catholic Relief and Rural Families. The system would concern stores of more than 400 m² belonging to a brand with at least five points of sale (including franchisees).
The economic balance of stores preserved
It is considered desirable by Inside Track executives because it could improve access to healthy and nutritious food for all. (cf. National health nutrition plan) for health. It is a social emergency measure as well as a health emergency.. What's more, it is feasible : distributors have the tools to apply it. According to the “insiders”, brands are already controlling their margins at the scale of the assortment : This is what we call “margin equalization”. A targeted basket at cost price can be perfectly integrated into this management. otherwise, the quantity of “100 products” should be compared to the total assortment which is several thousand items for a 400 m2 store, figure which rises for a hypermarket to several tens of thousands. This measure therefore in no way affects the economic balance of a store.. The “Insiders” even note that this threshold could have been lowered to 300 m2, to include more convenience stores that, for many, are slightly under 400 m2.
The cart must correspond to actual purchases
The text already regulates diversity and refers to the decree the nutritional criteria, environmental and qualitative as well as the minimum proportion of organic. Inside Track asks to clarify these criteria with the producers, suppliers, distributors, consumer representatives and competent authorities. We must guarantee current products, useful formats, and effective availability. An assortment chosen mainly to limit the stores' shortfall could offer a reduced profit to households : it is a design risk to be prevented to ensure the social and health benefits of the measure.
For a reflection on all the margins
In order to compensate for this shortfall in store revenue, “insiders” anticipate margin increases on other references. This measure is therefore a first step. To address the more global issue of equalizing margins penalizing healthy products, Inside Track calls for increased transparency on margins by category, with a comparable method distinguishing commercial margin, distribution costs, and profit. The system already provides protection for suppliers against the transfer of its cost : its control will be decisive.
