Supermarkets begin to see impact of farmers’ blockades
Blockades of supermarket distribution centres by farmers are having an impact on supplies in some stores. At Colruyt and Delhaize, farmers have blocked the centres that distribute dry food and beverages. Trade federation Comeos is threatening to take legal action if the farmers do not leave on Friday.
Several supermarket chains are having supply problems because farmers are blocking their distribution centres. Farmers are targeting those centres as part of ongoing protests because they feel they are not getting paid enough for their produce.
At Delhaize, the distribution centre in Ninove has been blocked since Tuesday evening. This makes it difficult for stores to replenish the stock of dry products and beverages. The blockade at the centre in Zellik, where fresh products are distributed, was lifted spontaneously this morning.
Two distribution centres in Hainaut are still blocked. From there, dry food, beverages, canned goods and paper products are delivered throughout Belgium. Supermarkets’ stocks of these products are often larger, but Colruyt says it is now seeing an impact from the blockades.
We have no choice, because we now have our backs against the wall
At the Colruyt distribution centre in Halle, where fresh produce and frozen foods are delivered, farmers are not allowing foreign suppliers in. Loaded trucks have been able to leave there since yesterday evening.
Four Aldi distribution centres are blocked, in Heusden-Zolder, Turnhout, Gembloux and Vaux-sur-Sûre. Deliveries are not possible and goods cannot leave the site.
Meanwhile, trade federation Comeos, among others, is threatening to have the blockades lifted through the courts if farmers do not end their blockades on Friday afternoon. “We have no choice, because we now have our backs against the wall,” Comeos spokesperson Hans Cardyn said.