In the absence of a common anti-inflation basket, as the government wanted, the brands will instead offer, each on their own, their device against rising prices. This is what Bruno Le Maire called this Monday morning an “anti-inflation quarter”, a commercial operation which aims to offer, according to the Minister of the Economy “the lowest possible price” on a selection of “hundreds of products left to the choice of distributors. While some of the brands have already communicated the terms, here is a summary of what each offers.
Intermarché: 500 anti-inflation products. Unsheathed on Sunday, the Intermarché device consists of 500 daily products at fixed prices. In detail, these are 470 items from the brand’s brands (“Pâturages”, “Monique Ranou”, “Paquito” or even “Chabrior”…), and 30 fresh products from the meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. At the same time, Intermarché is launching its “anti-inflation market”, a selection every weekend of traditional fresh products from its meat and fish producers. The system is in place until the end of June.
Casino: everything you need for less than 1 euro. Casino will offer from March 15 a list of 500 products at fixed prices. With the difference that the price will not exceed 1 euro. From vegetables to cereals to cleaning products, this list is supposed to cover all daily consumption. These will mainly be private label items, 60% of which will be for food, with a Nutri-Score A, B or C. Available in all of the brand’s supermarkets and hypermarkets, the offer will be maintained until June 15.
VIDEO. An “anti-inflation quarter” in supermarkets until June, announces Bruno Le Maire
Carrefour: 200 products at less than 2 euros. Presented on Sunday by its CEO Alexandre Bompard in the JDD, Carrefour’s plan will be effective from March 15 and until June 15. Concretely, 100 everyday products (including hygiene) and 100 others presented as “healthy” (Nutri-Score A or B) such as eggs, yogurts, fresh vegetables will be at blocked prices (less than 2 euros). These baskets will be made up of the brand’s brands: Carrefour Classic and Simpl. This operation comes completely from the one called “anti-inflation challenge”, launched in January, i.e. 100 daily Carrefour products at blocked prices until May 7, 2023.
System U: 150 products at cost prices. The brand, which brings together the Super U and Hyper U stores in particular, is among the precursors of the anti-inflation basket. Since February 1, its basket has consisted of 150 products sold at cost prices. This means that the company does not make a margin other than that provided for by law. All brand U, the articles concerned focus on food. The operation is for an indefinite period to date.
Auchan: no basket (yet), but “anti-inflation solutions” already in place. Auchan has not unveiled an anti-inflation basket as such. Since February 9, the brand has deployed “anti-inflation solutions” to support the purchasing power of its customers. The Mulliez family group is betting on its first-price brand “Pouce” and on daily selections of meat (butcher’s cuts at less than 3 euros), fish (at less than 5 euros per kilo) and vegetables, at low prices. reduced and identifiable in store.
Monoprix: the “Monopetitsprix” until June. A sign of the Casino group, Monoprix has also announced the maintenance of its “Monopetitsprix” operation launched in September 2022. Until June, 300 essential products (rice, yogurts, hams, etc.) are offered at fixed prices then 87 others “at controlled prices to contain their rise.
Leclerc “does not need” an anti-inflation basket. Michel-Edouard Leclerc, chairman of the brand’s strategic committee, preferred to opt for another strategy. No anti-inflation basket with a range of defined products, because Leclerc presents itself as “generally cheaper” on all products. In an interview given to 20 Minutes, Michel-Edouard Leclerc also invites consumers to compare prices, via their home platform relaunched on Monday.
Still no basket at Lidl. Michel Biero, purchasing and marketing director at Lidl, unveiled a month ago an anti-inflation basket of around fifty products to meet daily needs. However, this device is not yet deployed in the brand’s stores. Like Leclerc, Lidl believes it is already cheaper than its competitors.