Farmers protests disrupt Belgian supermarket Colruyt's supply chain (updated)
01/02/2024 13:14
(Adds details on blockades, produce sourcing, background in
paragraphs 2, 4-8)
BRUSSELS, Feb 1 (Reuters) - One of Belgium's biggest
supermarket chains Colruyt COLR.BR said on Thursday three of
its distribution centres were blocked by protesting farmers,
leading to disruptions in its supply chain.
Farmers across numerous European countries have taken to the
streets and blocked roads and highways to voice their discontent
about pay, taxes and green rules, and unfair competition from
abroad.
Centres located in Ollignies, Ghislenghien and Halle in
central western Belgium, which supply Colruyt's Belgian shops
with dry food, water and drinks, and fresh and frozen products,
were no longer accessible.
"At the moment, stock is still available in our shops...
(but) it is inevitable that products will eventually be missing
from the shelves," Colruyt said in a statement, adding that it
was difficult to make definitive statements on timing as shops
have different stock levels.
"Colruyt Group has always focused on sourcing locally as
much as possible and succeeds very well in this for many
categories," the store chain said. It added it understood
farmers' concerns but did not see blockades as a solution to
them.
In a separate statement, the group said almost 100% of its
meat, milk and eggs came from Belgium, while 75% of fruit and
vegetables were of that origin.
Colruyt Group operates in food and non-food sector in
Belgium, France and Luxembourg with more than 700 own stores and
approximately 580 affiliated stores and employs more than 32,000
employees across the markets it operates in.
Its food retail unit operating in Belgium and Luxembourg
generated 3.54 billion euros of revenue in the first half of its
shifted 2023-2024 financial year.
(Reporting by Piotr Lipinski; Editing by Toby Chopra and David
Evans)
((piotr.lipinski@thomsonreuters.com;))