Groups of unemployed and impoverished persons demanded that Argentinean supermarkets donate food to them during the holiday season. Store managers were forced to make an immediate decision as to whether they would give out food. The underlying problem is linked to Argentina’s 30 straight months of recession, which caused unemployment to rise, and the food budget of the average consumer to decline.
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The demands were mainly made at supermarkets located in the La Matanza region of Buenos Aires. On 23 December, leaders of the organising group, referred to as Corriente Clasista y Combativa (CCC), urged their mobs of followers to get aggressive about their demands. This led to several tense confrontations with police assigned to guard the stores.
The number of people demanding food was estimated to be in the hundreds. The leader of the CCC later stated that France-based Auchan and Carrefour supermarkets donated thousands of kilograms of food. Auchan gave out bags containing beef, chicken, vegetables, sugar, cider, rice, and bread. Store employees delivered the bags to a bus that was used to transport the activists.
Ultimately the only major food store chain in that area to flatly reject the request was Wal-Mart. Upon arriving there, the activists encountered heavy private and public security which blocked access to the premises. Management explained that giving out food under duress was against store policy.
In protest, the CCC positioned people outside the Wal-Mart store with banners calling for the chain to be banned from Argentina. CCC organisers stated that the protesters would remain in front of the store until it leaves Argentina. Given the lack of credibility the group has with the average Argentinean, it is unlikely that the protesters will put a serious dent in sales.
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By GlobalDataBad relations between the CCC and Wal-Mart date back several years. In 1998, store management filed suit against one of the group leaders for demanding food handouts.
In Southern Buenos Aires another group of unemployed persons from poor neighbourhoods gathered in front a Coto supermarket. In that case, they were given Christmas items and ultimately dispersed. Coto and other supermarkets in the region anticipated trouble and had extra security on duty.
Argentina’s ministry of Interior expressed concern regarding the size and scope of demands made of supermarkets. In addition to the incidents in Buenos Aires, similar group action was taken against supermarkets in Mar del Plata, General Roca, Neuquen, Salta, Avellaneda, Moron, and Quilmes.
By Steve Lewis, just-food.com correspondent
