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Video duration:
12 mins
While the major retail brand Carrefour has made several gestures towards consumers, Jérôme Coulombel, a former executive, intends to denounce in “The Big Scam” the company’s dubious and even illegal practices.
Jérôme Coulombel knows the Carrefour group well, having worked there for nearly 30 years. He left the company in 2017 after burnout. On the set of 12/13 info, he explains that he left because of management that he describes as “inhuman”. On the contrary, the distribution brand accused it of “management too attentive”. The former executive took with him thousands of confidential documents that belonged to the company. Carrefour allegedly offered him 800,000 euros to buy his silence.
High prices imposed on suppliers and franchisees
In his book, Jérôme Coulombel denounces, among other things, the prices imposed by the group on suppliers. “The services imposed and sold by Carrefour to its suppliers will have an impact on suppliers’ prices. They are forced to sell dearly, ultimately consumers pay the price”, he explains. According to him, Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard “would be well advised to lower the sales prices it charges to its franchisees. Carrefour sells to its franchisees 20% more expensive. If it sold less, the consumer would pay less”. The brand responded by invoking the “resentment” by Jérôme Coulombel, but he denies: “It’s a great company (…) but today it is unfortunately run by people who are not traders.”