Meatpackers threaten to stop supplying meat to Carrefour, says newspaper

Some of the main companies in the refrigeration sector began, on Friday (22), a process of interrupting the supply of their products to the supermarket chain Carrefour and other companies in the group, such as Atacadão. The information is from the newspaper Economic Valuewho heard sources linked to the Brazilian meat industry.

This is a retaliation for the boycott announced, last Wednesday (20), by the global CEO of Carrefour, Alexandre Bompard, of meat from the countries that make up Mercosur.

The decision by the French group’s CEO was justified as a kind of act of solidarity with the European country’s agribusiness, which has taken a stance against the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.

According to sources heard by the Valuearound 30% of Carrefour units in Brazil have already suffered, in some way, from impacts on the supply of beef. There would also be a growing movement among chicken suppliers.

Regarding pork, at least until now, there is no information about interruption in delivery.

In a recent participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, reiterated his government’s position contrary to the Mercosur-EU agreement.

Sewn together since the end of the 1990s, the trade agreement between the two blocs had its first stage completed in 2019, still under the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Since then, the terms have gone through the review phase by the countries involved, but little progress has been made so far.

Macron opposes the agreement with Mercosur, mainly for domestic political reasons. The treaty is viewed with skepticism in France, as there is concern about the risk of weakening the country’s agricultural sector. According to the French government, if the agreement is implemented under current terms, French companies that follow stricter environmental laws in their country will have to compete with companies that are not subject to the same standards.

According to Emmanuel Macron, one of the problems with the agreement between Mercosur and the EU is the lack of a clearer commitment related to the climate issue and the preservation of biodiversity.

Wanted by ValueCarrefour reported that there are no shortages in its stores. The company also said that it is “committed to Brazilian consumers”.

Also contacted, JBS and Frigol have not commented on the issue so far. Marfrig and Minerva, in turn, informed that they would not comment on the case.

Repudiation note

In a note released last Thursday (21), Brazilian agribusiness and food industry entities also criticized the statements made by Carrefour’s global CEO.

“If the Global CEO of the Carrefour Group, Alexandre Bompard, understands that Mercosur is not a worthy supplier to the French market – which is no different from the Spanish, Belgian, Arab, Turkish, Italian –, the undersigned entities consider that, if not it is used to supply Carrefour in the French market, it is not used to supply Carrefour in any other country”, says the document.

The text is signed by CNA (Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil), ABIEC (Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries), ABPA (Brazilian Animal Protein Association), ABAG (Brazilian Agribusiness Association), SRB (Brazilian Rural Society ) and FIESP (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo).

Read the repudiation note in full:

NOTE OF REPUDIATION FROM BRAZILIAN AGRIBUSINESS TO THE CARREFOUR GROUP

“In response to the allegations made by the Global CEO of the Carrefour supermarket chain, Alexandre Bompard, the undersigned entities express their rejection of the attacks made against agricultural production in Mercosur. Protein production from the South American economic bloc reaches all countries in the world, including the most demanding markets, including the world’s largest economies, such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, China and Japan.

Periodically, companies are audited and certified by hundreds of international health missions and also by customers who confirm the food safety of what goes to each destination. Among the certifications obtained by Mercosur companies, those from the BRC (British Retail Consortium) stand out, the main global reference in quality when it comes to protein production.

The bloc is the world leader in exports of chicken and beef and is among the largest in pork. It took decades for Mercosur as a whole to advance its international reputation as a meat producer. Responsibly, the sector in the region was the main supplier to all markets during the biggest global public health crisis this century, the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

All of this demonstrates the excellence of production in the region, a commitment that the entities and associations that represent the 29 million agribusiness workers in Brazil reinforce day after day with food safety and the quality of what reaches consumers around the world.

Therefore, if the Global CEO of the Carrefour Group, Alexandre Bompard, understands that Mercosur is not a worthy supplier to the French market – which is no different from the Spanish, Belgian, Arab, Turkish, Italian –, the undersigned entities consider that, if It is not used to supply Carrefour in the French market, it is not used to supply Carrefour in any other country.

We reaffirm the sector’s commitment to responsible, sustainable production and food security.”

Brasília, November 21, 2024

ABIEC (Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries)

ABPA (Brazilian Animal Protein Association)

ABAG (Brazilian Agribusiness Association)

CNA (Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation)

SRB (Brazilian Rural Society)

FIESP (Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo)