Obesity: Opens Leclerc hunting candy

In June, the Centres Leclerc remove references thirteen confection currently sold on display at checkouts its hypermarkets. The distributor will withdraw some of its confectionery displays cash. Its competitors have doubts about the effectiveness of such a gesture. More candy fund for the children maintain the line? Michel-Edouard Leclerc is. In June, the distributor will remove references thirteen confection currently sold on display at checkouts its hypermarkets. This gesture will weigh little on its accounts. The candies in question represents a drop of water: less than 5 million euros on a turnover of about thirty billion. In their place, Leclerc… plans to sell candy, but sugar-free and for adults. Or perhaps more dietary products. Today, nearly 20% of children aged 3 to 17 years suffer from obesity and overweight. "To address the current concerns of consumers," Leclerc took the initiative he calls "proactive and pioneer." By acting alone, it s'attire the wrath of industrialists. This is in trouble "Michel-Edouard Leclerc énerve us a lot, but it is his objective," says Jean-Rene Buisson, president of the National Association of Food Industries (Ania). He is campaigning for a "common position" on the topic among retailers, manufacturers and governments. "Not brutal measures and interdiction." This is in trouble. On 4 February, the Minister of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, announced the removal by April of advertising for certain foods during children's television programmes. It also called for the withdrawal of confectionery and sweets at checkouts in shops. "Without dialogue, laments Jean-Rene Buisson, threatening us of a law in June. Obesity is a public health issue, but we do not want the government involved in the organization of the linear! "He therefore" boycotted "the appointment by the minister last Friday and was attended yesterday organizations concerned with this issue in order to reach agreement. The Federation of Trade and Distribution (which is not Leclerc) was. For Jerome Bédier, its chairman, the late candy box, it is not necessarily the ideal. "We are not sure that children eat less candy or chocolates if not more in cash," he says. Unlike tobacco, we are not in a logic of repression, children need sugar. "At first glance, therefore," there is a doubt on the effectiveness of this measure, "according to Jerome Bédier. Jean-Rene Buisson think he is also working on the display of nutritional products. " It now wants to meet… Roselyne Bachelot and Francois Fillon to define a framework for action.