Carrefour has signed a three-year supply deal with French veal processors Sobeval and a group of almost 350 calf breeders in south-west France.
The agreement is one of the first examples of the tripartite contracts between farmers, processors and retailers for which provision was made in legislation passed this year to modernise France’s agricultural sector, a key element being the consolidation of small farmers’ incomes.
Under the deal with Sobeval and its suppliers, Carrefour has made a commitment to purchase just over 17,000 calves in 2011, an increase of 11.5% on the previous year.
The retailer’s objective with these contracts is to guarantee customers good quality veal throughout its Carrefour and Carrefour Market outlets, a joint statement read.
Carrefour is poised to sign similar contracts with veal processing groups and calf breeders in Brittany and central France.
