The asparagus season, marketed fresh in between March and June, is in full swing right now. And nice surprise for consumers, prices are down sharply. At Rungis, for example, a kilo of white asparagus was worth Wednesday between 4.80 and 6.90 euros per kilo following categories. A decrease of about 70 cents on the wholesale market which is largely passed on to consumers. "Asparagus, which fell 3 euros, are selling like hotcakes, welcomes a saleswoman Hyper U at Mayenne. Customers expect it and the radius was robbed. "

The French are lovers of this ultra-fresh vegetables, many nutritional values. They consume an average of 400 grams per person per year. Overall, local shops (markets, greengrocers and convenience stores) represents more than half of the distribution channel of asparagus. Another third of the volume is up in supermarkets. The remainder is sold through direct sales, which has grown significantly.

Land formerly of Excellence asparagus in Europe, France has seen its market share erode over the years. "Germany has become the European leader since 2003, says Angelique Delahaye, president of Vegetables in France. Its production has doubled in ten years with over 90,000 tons. "And to the detriment of France, who is now the fourth largest in Europe, 18,200 tons, after Italy (44,000 tonnes) and Spain (50,400 tons). In ten years, France has seen its acreage decline of 43%, to 5,525 hectares, according to the parliamentary report coordinated by the Deputy Mayor of Agen Jean Dionis du Sejour. At the same time, the surfaces increased 64% across the Rhine, to 21,815 hectares.

Picking Sunday

This new hegemony of Germany in the production of asparagus owes nothing to chance. First, the Germans love it and there is an ancient food culture where the asparagus accommodates many meals. Then, the country is rich in deep sandy soil, very favorable for growing asparagus. Last but not least Germany, already unbeatable in the industry, is becoming the champion of competitiveness in agriculture all forms of production. "The workforce represents 70% of the cost of production of asparagus in France. Despite a recent decline in expenses, the cost of a seasonal schedule is almost twice as high at home in Germany ", says Angelique Delahaye. Currently, the hourly wage of a seasonal employer costs included, is around 10 euros. In Germany, according to the region, it varies between 4 and 6 euros an hour. Last detail, in France, "the seasonal can not pick the asparagus on Sunday, when he must harvest in high season vegetables every day," says Angelique Delahaye.

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Greece goes into its paradox. Historic cradle of democracy, she is passionate as always in politics, as evidenced by the good turnout in the general election on May 6 (65% of registered voters turned out to vote). But this passion produces no power capable of meeting the challenges of the country.

Alexis Tsipras, the local Mélenchon, which has tripled its electoral score compared to 2009, refused to support a national unity government with Evangelos Venizelos, the leader of PASOK (Socialist), respecting the commitments signed fiscal discipline there are three months. The country has not always of prime minister, while the urgency has never been greater.  

Who will represent Greece at meetings of the Eurogroup and Ecofin Monday, May 14 and Tuesday, May 15? He would need a strong personality to defend with the granting of European partners in June of a $ 8 billion of loans. Who sit behind the flag to cross and blue stripes at the NATO summit in Chicago on May 20? An eloquent negotiator would be welcome if Greece wants to avoid that Westerners endorse the requirement of the Skopje government to appoint his country "Macedonia", to which the Greeks are opposed to historical reasons.

Patronage system

"I am very concerned (…) I appeal to the sense of national responsibility of all political leaders to reach agreement respecting the commitments of the country," said Friday the EU president, Herman Van Rompuy. But, late afternoon, the Greek political class had still not given a name.

Lucas Papademos, the technocrat in charge of the country for three months, went to see the President Karolos Papoulias to ask him to speed up the process of appointing a new prime minister. The former vice president of the European Central Bank is very concerned about the possibility of excluding Greece from the euro area, corroborated by the statements in the press of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble.

Oddly enough, the Greek population, which according to all polls are still mostly gained against the euro, does not include the requirements of its creditors, or their impatience at the slow pace of structural reforms opaque. "I did not vote for PASOK, this time launching Michalis, independent taxi driver, because it does nothing for my daughter when she has an engineering degree!" ….. …

In the patronage system prevailing since the arrival of the Socialists to power in 1981, there was a right of activists to put their children in the administration. PASOK has fallen from 43% to 13% of the vote between elections of October 2009 and May 6.

"In a country where youth unemployment exceeds 50%, the little people have no sense or do not vote more rationally! Says a Greek financier. The Greeks have lost confidence. Only the Chinese are constantly telling us they believe in long-term potential of the country! "

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The French may well have low morale and closely monitor their spending, not about to give up one of their tasty treats: chocolate bars. This is one of the fastest growing segments (7%) on the market for chocolate confectionery, dominated by three heavyweights: Ferrero (Kinder Bueno, Country), Mars (Mars, Twix, Snickers) and Nestlé (KitKat, Lion). "In times of crisis, the French do not want to agree to give up small pleasures available, explains Christophe Bordin, Ferrero France. They arbitrate on other expenses. "Higher prices, less than 2%, due to soaring raw material, nothing changed.

Better growth potential remains high. The French consume on average only three chocolate bars a year, half that of tablets. However, public health campaigns against obesity, especially among children, they have seriously been shadowed. The bars have all but disappeared and fronts of boxes hypermarkets.

Nutrition a key priority

So, most actors, who have given up advertising per hour of after school, have made improving the nutritional profile of their bar one of their warhorses. This is one of the sinews of war fought in this market extremely dominated by Kinder Bueno (Ferrero), the youngest, born just twenty years ago. March, who has made improving his recipe one of the keys of his reconquest of the French market, has pioneered five years ago. There was urgency: mothers had diverted from his bar, which was the first in the French market in 1951, finding it too greasy and disgusting.

After declining the use of saturated fatty acids and fats, March flatly reduces the size of its bar (- 7%). And to inject a little "dream" in his communication, he revived his pub in 1995 and the American imagination of the Wild West, while reviving its historic slogan ("A March, and it goes again") creditreport. Mission accomplished in two years, he won a million new consumers. "Our goal is to become a leader in the segment of chocolate bars," says Thierry Gaillard, president of Mars Chocolat France, whose cult brand is celebrating his eighty years.

Quest for respectability

Even fighting for KitKat (Nestle), one of the most bars sold in the world (17.6 billion in 2010), which in 2008 launched a light version for women ("Senses", 165 calories). Before going out early 2012 "Singles", a single bar to 80 calories.

The battle is fierce. "As this product pulse that are not on the shopping list, the key remains visible in stores and media, based on strong brands," said Thierry Gaillard. Even more than innovation, the "classic" generate most sales. Face Ferrero, who has the largest sales force in the market (400 sales), March 85 vendors hired last year to push its promos. In the agribusiness sector, Ferrero France – who recruited the tennis champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to the pub Kinder Bueno – advertising remains the largest investor with 215 million euros (+8%) in 2011.

In this quest for respectability, chocolate bars have an asset in France: the famous "taste" of children, sacred pause in the Hexagon. On this particular field that Kinder Bueno has succeeded in widening the gap with its competitors. Because it is perceived to be lighter, moms do not hesitate to give their children for their "four hours" instead of biscuits and pastries.

]]> http://ecopolhome.com/the-insolent-french-energy-market-chocolate-bars/feed/ 0 http://ecopolhome.com/auto-insurance-what-to-do-in-case-of-dispute/ http://ecopolhome.com/auto-insurance-what-to-do-in-case-of-dispute/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:40:18 +0000 admin http://ecopolhome.com/auto-insurance-what-to-do-in-case-of-dispute/ Fostering dialogue

The first rule in litigation is always trying to find an amicable solution by promoting dialogue. Also, after a finding, it is important to make contact quickly with the adviser or broker in charge of your case. This is an opportunity to obtain justifications and make your point of view.

This is unfortunately not the most common. However it is often popular with insurance companies and after clarification of the parties it is common to reach an amicable agreement.

Associate with other insured

If dialogue is not possible to reach an amicable resolution of the dispute, it may be worthwhile to use associations insured or consumers. This helps to make contact with others who are insured in the same situation vis-à-vis an insurance company. Often, litigation, unity is strength and it can exert more pressure on companies.

Think about the contradictory expert

Often, litigation auto insurance regarding the amount of compensation offered by the insurer. To the extent this amount is mostly determined by an expert, do not hesitate to ask an expert opinion. To do this, simply to mandate an automotive expert at your expense. If the contradictory expert reveals large differences with the report which the insurance company, a third independent expert will arbitrate the dispute.

Namely: the cost of third-party expertise are shared between your insurance company and you.

Hiring a mediator

Completely independent, the mediator of insurance and free intervenes as a last resort. Also, other remedies must be exhausted amicable and should not be any legal proceeding.

To take advantage of his speech, just submit the matter to the mediator of insurance by registered letter with acknowledgment. This folder should contain all parts necessary for the proper understanding of the dispute as well as information regarding the insurance company.

Note: the decision of insurance ombudsman does not require the insurance company but is a strong case if a prosecution should be initiated.

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At L'Oréal, the experts of pharmacy have finally managed to wake a sleeping beauty. After stagnating for years, sales of perfumes, soaps and body care Roger & Gallet jumped 19% last year, reaching fifty million.

The brand certainly still tiny compared to Vichy and La Roche Posay, the flagship of the active cosmetics division (DCA) of the world's leading beauty products. But it is a growth driver for the industry, with Inneov, Sanoflore and Skinceuticals.

The "perfume apothecary", created hundred and fifty years ago by Armand Roger and Charles Gallet, whose stepfather had bought the Glover case of Jean-Marie Farina, inventor of cologne, had its hour glory before World War II.

Restarted after its acquisition by Sanofi in 1975, she was abandoned when the pharmaceutical company took over Yves Saint Laurent perfumes, in 1993. "Roger & Gallet was not a priority at YSL Beauté," says Thierry Vidart, its current CEO, who works for the brand since 1995, and saw her go from Sanofi PPR (1999) and L'Oréal .

In early 2008, the king of cosmetics has offered YSL Beauté for 1.15 billion euros to strengthen its luxury division with a French perfume creator. He has since sold most other fragrances of YSL Beauté (Boucheron, Oscar de la Renta and Zegna), and retained the fragrance license Stella McCartney.

Ambitions in Brazil

It remained to determine the fate of Roger & Gallet, finally recovered in January 2010 by the active cosmetics division, which attempts to revive the brand, sold in pharmacies to 85% and 15% in department stores and perfumeries as Marionnaud.

The new management is doubling, with the aim of "creating the category of well-being by the perfume pharmacy," said Brigitte Liberman, patron of the DCA, and "a new offer to attract new customers to energize the circuit, "which progresses more slowly than the cosmetics market in France. Roger & Gallet products launched to rejuvenate its clientele, such as body care Sublime Oil and fragrance of Osmanthus Flower. Result: Sales jumped 22% last year in 5,000 pharmacies in France where the brand is present.

Roger & Gallet, which generates 85% of its sales in France, was also launched last year to conquer Europe's. It is present in 3,500 pharmacies in Germany, Italy, Spain and England.

It also operates 550 outlets in Brazil, second fragrance market in the world after the United States, with the ambition to make the country its third largest market in three years. "Our goal is to double sales within four to five years, reaching 100 million euros," says Brigitte Liberman.

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The CEO of Geodis would flip-flop. According to Libération on Monday, the freight subsidiary of SNCF should ultimately maintain its takeover offer Sernam. "I say again very clearly that we have made an offer with the intention to resume Sernam. [...] We will present in court Tuesday, "assured the head of Geodis, Pierre Blayau.

These comments contrast with those held this weekend in the columns of the Sunday newspaper. Pierre Blayau there considered "not dramatic" the hypothesis of a carrier's bankruptcy. And remember that Geodis accompanied its takeover offer on two conditions.

The first, on the € 642 million illegal aid demanded by Brussels, has been fulfilled. The European Commission agreed Wednesday that the buyer does not inherit Sernam the repayment obligation. But the second, concerning the financial health of the carrier and the state of its cash, however would default. Geodis claimed that Sernam to work only for 30 to 45 days, which would require a cash of about 30 million euros.

Government pressure

Earlier in the week, Pierre Blayau, who considers the financial position of Sernam very poor, had signified to the unions that the recovery was compromised. "It made us realize that it will not be able to maintain its offer," explained Alain told AFP Wednesday Delpuech CGT carrier. According to Libération, Pierre Blayau has even said that the resumption of Sernam could "endanger jobs at Geodis."

For the newspaper, citing several sources, only pressure from the government would explain the reversal of Geodis. "The Elysee has called this weekend for Blayau maintains its offer," says a source close to release the file.

The transport minister, Thierry Mariani, has so far invested actively in this matter. The effect of the liquidation of an enterprise of 1441 employees on the eve of the presidential election is considered disastrous. The Commercial Court of Nanterre travel Tuesday its decision on the future of Sernam.

SNCF is mobilizing to appease the discontent of its users. It has just six new commitments, collectively called "guaranteed trip", to improve the service provided to them. Applicable on March 31 and the TGV intercity trains, the new device, designed with consumer groups, will have a budget of 50 million euros.

The "guarantee travel" includes minimizing the impact of the delays complained of increasingly frequent travelers. In case of delay of over an hour and whatever the cause, the SNCF is committed to providing its passengers two options: either full and immediate refund of the return ticket, or can borrow another train at the same price within 48 hours. In the event of contingencies, the SNCF to fund those it has not been resolved transport travel by taxi or a hotel room.  

History of punctuality

The railway company will also make an effort in terms of information. To help customers make their transport choices knowingly, the site will release a historic infolignes.com punctuality of trains and intercity TGV last 60 days. The exact cause delays of more than 15 minutes will also be shown the next day on the internet.

In an interview in Le Parisien – Aujourd'hui en France, the CEO of SNCF Voyages, Barbara Dalibard, said that more work will be provided to inform travelers of their late train, by SMS or email. For this, 30,000 field workers will be equipped with smartphones that will allow them to trace information more easily.

A new "guaranteed seat" finally improve the service offered to passengers overbooked. The skipper will help them find a place, and if necessary outperform the first class. If no seat is still available, the station will offer the customer who had to make his journey standing financial compensation "in the form of travel vouchers of 10 €, 20 € or 30 €.

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One of two blast furnaces Site Florange ArcelorMittal, stopped for two months, should eventually go back soon. According to Nicolas Sarkozy, invited this Thursday morning France Inter, the steel group had decided to resume its activity in the second half of 2012. "Florange is 2667 employees including 500 in a situation of losing their jobs" if the second blast furnace will not restart, said the head of state.

The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Mittal, Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday for "a long working meeting," would also committed $ 17 million in Florange, two million for the restart of the site and 15 million for its modernization. "Seven million euros will be invested in a new gasometer and eight million to develop new products in Florange, for without going into detail, the auto market," said Nicolas Sarkozy. ArcelorMittal has confirmed this information in the morning, however, suggesting that restart "from the perspective of an economic recovery."

Chain liquid always threatened

The Indian group has repeatedly in recent weeks that the closure of the Florange was only temporary, and will ensure "maintaining activity in Lorraine." In a context of declining demand for steel, the group's director in France, Hervé Bourrier, however, lamented last week that the Florange site is less efficient than those of Fos or Dunkirk. And stated that even if you restart the site in the coming months whether to continue or not the activity would be reviewed each quarter, "depending on the backlog."

The new announcement leaves employees skeptical. "Nicolas Sarkozy announces investment for cockerie, which feeds the Dunkirk site, and for automotive production. But these two pathways are not endangered, unlike the liquid stream, "says Patrick Auzanneau CFDT union delegate. Questioned by AFP, MP PS Moselle, Michel Liebgott, advanced further than the two million investment announced for restarting the blast furnace were already known. "They were negotiated by the state in compensation it pays partial unemployment since the beginning of the year," said MP.

Ulcos project

The announcement last week of a state investment of 150 million euros was not better received. "This is something that has already been said for months, it's related to Ulcos project", explained to AFP Wednesday an official of the CFDT. The salvation for over 2600 employees, however, could come from this project, whose objective is to produce steel with less CO2. With a total cost of around 600 million euros, its viability depends on the decision of the European Commission for its funding. Arbitration should not take place before September.

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It is a repudiation for the Competition Authority. The institution, which had inflicted 385 million euro fine in September 2010 with the main banks operating in France on their pricing of check processing, has seen its decision questioned by the Court of Appeal of Paris. In a ruling Thursday, the latter took the view that in this case, "the grievances of Understanding (…) can not be accepted" and that the banks concerned "should therefore be exonerated ".

The case dates back to the early 2000s, when banks have embarked on the computerization of processing checks. They are then granted to establish interchange fees, naturally passed on to end customers.

Fines must be repaid to banks

Banks have justified the introduction of these fees, which were abolished in 2007, the cost that they accounted for the modernization effort of check processing. One argument considered to be unfounded by corporate treasurers, who saw the impact fees.

In September 2010, the Competition Authority found in favor of the latter, and denounced an agreement on final prices. A vision not shared by the Court of Appeal of Paris, sought by banks complained, BPCE, Post Bank, BNP-Paribas, the National Confederation of Credit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole, Crédit du Nord, CIC, LCL HSBC France, Societe Generale.

In its reasoning, it considers that the commissions were "directly related to the new system paperless exchange of checks, public interest project neutral in terms of competition law …". It also believes that the Bank Agreement does not constitute "an agreement on final prices."

The Competition Authority may lodge an appeal. When asked, a spokesman said the institution consider what action would give the matter. Fines paid to the Treasury must be repaid to the banks.  

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