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LIVING IN FRANCE

French supermarket Carrefour bans certain products over ‘unacceptable’ price hikes

Supermarket chain Carrefour has stopped selling Doritos, Pepsi and other Pepsico brands at its stores in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain amidst a dispute over price hikes, an industry source said on Friday.

French supermarket Carrefour bans certain products over 'unacceptable' price hikes
A sign reading in French "We no longer sell this brand due to unacceptable price increases" is pictured at a Carrefour Group store in Le Pre-Saint-Gervais, near Paris, on January 5, 2024 (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

“We no longer sell this brand due to unacceptable price increases,” say tags on shelves in Carrefour’s French stores where the Pepsico products once stood.

The source said the move also affected stores in Belgium, Italy and Spain.

It means consumers will no longer be able to find the iconic products alongside PepsiCo names such as Lay’s potato chips, Lipton tea, Quaker Cereals and 7Up.

French retailers are locked in annual negotiations with big food industry firms on prices and other conditions regarding their sale in supermarkets.

“We’ve been in discussion with Carrefour for many months and we will continue to engage in good faith in order to try to ensure that our products are available,” a PepsiCo spokeswoman said, declining to comment further on the talks.

Retailers say they are under pressure from food industry firms to raise prices.

Pepsi’s main rival, Coca-Cola, said in November is was seeking to raise its prices an average of 7 percent.

PepsiCo reported in October its sales so far in 2023 had risen by 9 percent on slightly lower food sales and steady beverage sales, an indication it has also raised prices.

It said it expects to boost profits by 13 percent in 2023 and return around $7.7 billion to shareholders in dividends and share buybacks.

With European consumers suffering from food price inflation — the cost of France’s reference shopping basket has jumped 20 percent in two years — many households are watching their spending and shifting to lower-priced supermarket brands.

Michel-Edouard Leclerc, the head of rival French supermarket chain E. Leclerc said the talks with the food giants had been difficult but said that dropping brand name products was not a satisfactory answer.

“Consumers don’t want to pay more but if they don’t have their products, they won’t be happy and they will go to a rival,” he told Franceinfo radio.

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LIVING IN FRANCE

What is France’s ‘citizen service’ and who has to do it?

Although France no longer has compulsory military service, there is still a requirement for a 'citizen service' known as the JDC - and for most younger people this is compulsory, including young foreigners who take French citizenship.

What is France's 'citizen service' and who has to do it?

France scrapped compulsory military service in 1997 so its teenagers are no longer required to do 10 months of square-bashing, boot polishing and cross country runs.

They are, however, required to do the Journée défense et citoyenneté (JDC) in most cases – although this at least has the benefit of being just a single day.

What is it? 

The JDC is basically a one-day course or learning exercise about your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of France.

You will receive teaching on three main areas;

  • The general issues and objectives of national defence, and on the different forms of commitment required from citizens. This part of the course is usually taught by members of the French military
  • Civics lessons – similar to those given in French schools – based on the Charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français (Charter of rights and duties of French citizens)
  • Information on equality between men and women, on the fight against sexist prejudice and on the fight against physical, psychological or sexual violence committed within the couple

You will also be given a brief test on your knowledge of the French language. This is for everyone, not just foreigners, and language learners can feel comforted by the fact that plenty of native French people also struggle with the intricacies of their language.

You do not have to pass any kind of exam on the contents of the citizenship course – more on the curriculum here.

The course usually lasts seven and a half hours – basically a standard working day.

Who has to do it?

There are two things that young people in France must do – the recensement citoyen (citizen census) and then, in most cases, the JDC.

The recensement citoyen is compulsory for;

  • Any French citizens who are turning 16 – they must complete the registration within three months of their 16th birthday.
  • Anyone who gains French nationality between the ages of 16 and 25 – they must sign up within a month of getting their citizenship.

It is not required for people older than 25 who gain French citizenship, neither is it required for non-French citizens – even if they are long-term residents in France.

People who fail to complete the recensement citoyen when required cannot be inscribed onto the electoral rolls (and therefore cannot vote), while the certificate of completion is also usually required to enrol for French public exams or administrative exams (eg professional qualifications).

Once you have completed the census, you will then receive notice for the one-day citizenship course (JDC). This is compulsory for most people, although there are exceptions for people who have a disability or a long-term illness.

How do you do it?

First off, the recensement citoyen can be done either online or in person, if you choose the online option it is done at the local mairie.

It’s a relatively simple sign-up process and then you receive the attestation de recensement, which will be required for registering for exams. Once you have completed this, you will automatically be added to the electoral roll once you reach the age of 18.

Once this is completed, you will then receive a convocation (summons) to your one-day JDC. The letter will provide details of how and where to do the course, as well as the options to appeal if you believe you are exempt on the grounds of illness or disability.

It also gives you an autorisation d’absence exceptionnelle – authorisation of absence, which you present to your employer if you are working or an apprentice. They are then legally obliged to give you the day off to attend.

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