the tightening of the rules “is very good news”, greets the boss of Système U

While the Nutri-Score rules changed on Monday, Dominique Schelcher assured France Inter on Wednesday that he will “implement” this new indicator in his stores, “as the packaging is renewed”.

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of the Système U group, believes on Wednesday January 3 on France Inter that the tightening of the Nutri-Score rules, which came into force on January 1, 2024, is “A very good news”. Concretely, the indicator evolves in a more strict manner, with a change in the method of calculation, in particular less tolerant with sugar and salt. For Dominique Schelcher, this new version “going in the right direction” because quality remains an important criterion for consumers.

The boss of Système U recalls that “the Nutri-Score is a quality benchmark adopted by the French”. He observes that in his stores, “products classified E sell less well, up to -5%, and products A and B sell better”. Dominique Schelcher therefore ensures that he “will implement” this new indicator “according to the renewal of the packaging”. That said, he regrets that some manufacturers are considering removing the indicator from their packaging, because they fear seeing their products display a degraded rating due to this change in calculation. “It is a mistake”insists Dominique Schelcher.

The general director of Système U also reacted to the difficulties weighing on the government project to create a Nutri-Score for climate and biodiversity. This environmental label should be ready for the start of the year, to take into account the ecological impact of food products and textiles. But “it’s complicated to set up, as was the Nutri-Score [alimentaire] few years ago”, admits Dominique Schelcher. The boss of Système U says he is in favor of “this environmental display”. “It will guide the French on their choices and it will ultimately be good for the planet”he specifies.

Soon an order regarding cases of “shrinkflation”

Furthermore, Dominique Schelcher returned to the draft decree on which the government is working, the one which should force supermarkets to further explain cases of “shrinkflation” (Or “reduflation”), when the quantities of a product are reduced with an unchanged or even higher price. “It is not up to us to inform the consumer”he indicates “but to the industrialist”.

If Dominique Schelcher promises that he “will respect and apply” this future decree, scheduled for March, he nevertheless wants to make his dissatisfaction heard. He explains that it is “the industrialist who knows that his packaging has declined, that his recipe has possibly been called into question”. “He has all the data”affirms the boss of Système U. He therefore considers that if it is up to supermarkets to inform consumers with more transparency, “it’s going to be complicated” and this risks representing “a waste of time”. “It’s going to be a gas plant to organize this”he adds.