Carrefour, the giant Paris-based food grocer, took PepsiCo products off its shelves in four European countries "due to unacceptable price increases," a spokesperson for the retailer told a number of media outlets in early January.
Apparently the Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt halted orders from Mondelez in a similar price dispute, according to a Reuters story. And there are reports other European retailers are doing likewise.
Carrefour stores in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium stopped stocking Pepsi, Lay's crisps and other Pepsico products because they have become too costly, according to Reuters. The stores posted signs saying “We no longer sell this brand due to unacceptable price increases.”
It comes as a new French law meant to fight the rising cost of living has supermarkets facing millions in fines if they don’t reach a deal with suppliers on prices by the end of the month, according to Associated Press.
Carrefour's move impacts more than 9,000 stores across the four countries, amounting to two-thirds of the retailer's global footprint of 14,348 stores according to its 2022 annual report. Reuters added that grocery retailers in at least Germany and Belgium have similarly stopped orders from several consumer goods firms.
PepsiCo said in a statement carried by Associated Press that it has “been in discussion with Carrefour for many months and we will continue to engage in good faith in order to try to ensure that our products are available.” The news service said PepsiCo has raised prices by double-digit percentages for seven straight quarters, most recently by 11% in the July-to-September period.
Reuters reported Carrefour customers broadly cheered the move.
