Restlessness in the French market continues as two major French meatpackers, Cooperl Arc Atlantique and Bigard-Socopa, have refused to join a pig auction due to high prices.
The event occurred last Monday at the ‘Marché du Porc Breton’ (MPB) in Plérin, Brittany, France. This is in the heart of the pig producing area in the country. As a result, the auction’s chairs decided to cancel the meeting.
Both meatpackers think that the current prices at the market are too high. Currently these prices are at around €1.40/kg which is too much to be able to fight competition from abroad, state both companies.
The companies voiced their discontent in a strong statement made by their organisation SNIV-SNCP.
The meat producers also protest against the fact that two large retailers use their own meat processing companies to also purchase pork at MPB, and are thus manipulating prices, claim Cooperl Arc Atlantique and Bigard-Socopa.
The current quotation of €1.40/kg is what French agricultural minister Stéphane Le Foll thinks is reasonable.