Eat leeks: why supermarkets are calling on consumers to buy this vegetable

Five large retail groups, Auchan, Carrefour, Casino, Coopérative U and Intermarché, are calling on consumers to buy French leeks to “come to the aid of the sector” threatened with overproduction, according to a joint press release on Tuesday.

“If the volumes are not consumed very quickly, they risk being lost, leading to a fall in prices for producers,” argue these brands.

The situation was caused by “exceptionally mild climatic conditions” which “accelerated the production of large quantities of leeks”, they say, like cauliflowers for which supermarkets had launched a similar appeal a few weeks ago.

“Theatricalization in store”

The brands claimed to have put in place measures such as “strengthening the referenced volumes of French leeks” as well as “highlighting” and “theatricalizing in stores. » For supermarkets, “if the mobilization of distributors is fully engaged, the way out of the crisis also relies on the act of purchasing. »

In a press release at the end of 2025, the FDSEA de la Manche (agricultural union) explained that after an already very difficult summer, “the prices of leeks and cabbages have collapsed, to the point of no longer covering their production costs. »