French farmers have been protesting against Aldi and Lidl, accusing them of unfair pricing. They have targeted the supermarkets by blocking roads and setting fire to hay bales in an attempt to pressure the government into action. The farmers are unhappy with working conditions, incomes, bureaucracy, and environmental policies, which they claim are undermining their competitiveness.
The protests have escalated to the point where farmers from the Confederation Paysanne Union blocked the entrance to an Aldi distribution hub in Cavaillon, southeastern France. A spokesperson for the group stated their intention to disrupt logistics platforms to demand a fairer distribution of profits, as supermarkets made significant gains in the latter half of the year.
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While UK growers empathize with their European counterparts, they have expressed concern over the impact of the protests on the delivery of fresh produce to the UK.
France's government warns protesters
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has issued a stern warning to farmers to keep away from Rungis and large cities. He has instructed the police to be lenient so far but emphasized that they are prepared to protect strategic locations.
Darmanin stated emphatically: "They can't attack the police. They can't enter Rungis. They can't enter the Paris airports or the center of Paris. But let me tell you again that if they try, we will be there."
Despite the government's warning, a tractor convoy originating from the southwest continued its journey towards Rungis early Wednesday, having spent the night at various farms en route.
Source: dailymail.co.uk