Large FMCG giants hold the strongest power in Europe's food chain.

🔒Territorial supply constraints, delivery stops & price segmentation keep markets fragmented and prices high.
🤝 #Retailalliances rebalance this power by negotiating with global FMCG brands not SMEs or farmers.
#SingleMarket #UTPs

As part of the Merchant Payment Coalition Europe, we call for a #digitaleuro that truly works for merchants and consumers.

Find our key priorities in our Press Release
👉 lnkd.in/ecmGV6zv

Find more in the full joint statement
👉 lnkd.in/e4UESurJ

The #SOTEU2025 reaffirmed Europe’s ambition: less red tape, a stronger Single Market, a digital euro & fairer food prices.

Independent retailers welcome this, but delivery is key: promises must reach the shop floor & consumers’ tables.

#Retail #Competitiveness

Yesterday, our members met with
ECB (@ecb.europa.eu) President Christine Lagarde to discuss the #DigitalEuro. We stressed the urgent need for:
🔹 Merchant fees as close to zero as possible
🔹 In-store payment priority
🔹 Reduced dependence on non-EU schemes
🔹 Pan-EU infrastructure
⬇️

🚫 Extraterritoriality of non-harmonised #UTP laws = existential threat to the EU single market for food.

We urge #AGRI Committee to reject such amendments & back #IMCO’s opinion: legal certainty must prevail.

Find our joint letter 👉 shorturl.at/bzChk
#SingleMarket

Recently, we co-signed a joint 📩 to the
European Commission, calling for action against the excessive fees imposed by international card schemes. Our concerns were covered by Reuters, highlighting how unchecked fee increases harm Europe's #competitiveness.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Jérémie Vilain (Eurelec) and Gianluigi Ferrari (Everest), CEOs representing the retail sector, took part in a productive European Commission Stakeholder Dialogue on #TerritorialSupplyConstraints. They brought the voice of retailers to the forefront of the discussion. (1/2)
@ec.europa.eu

📍Today in Brussels, Independent Retail Europe joins key stakeholders at the European Commission ’s #TerritorialSupplyConstraints Stakeholder Dialogue to discuss barriers to a truly functioning Single Market. (1/2) ⬇️
@ec.europa.eu

Tobias Wasmuht, CEO of @sparint.bsky.social has been appointed as the new President of Independent Retail Europe. Congratulations, Tobias! Looking forward to working together to continue strengthening independent retail across Europe! 👉 independentretaileurope.eu/en/news/tobi...

Key policymakers & retail leaders gathered to tackle challenges & opportunities for local retailers in Bucharest. A key highlight? A panel on our Manifesto—outlining essential policy needs.
Honoured to welcome Romanian policymakers, among them MEP Maria Grapini (1/2)

The #EU rightly sees #agrifood as strategic, but local retailers are underrepresented in policymaking.
🔹Retailers need more representation in EBAF
🔹Fair pricing reflects true margins
🔹Fair competition: #UTP Directive must curb multinationals' dominance
➡️ tinyurl.com/59upfw5r

#OmnibusPackage: The European Commission should ensure it reduces burdens on SME retail. Key asks:
🔹 Align CSRD, CSDDD & Taxonomy timelines
🔹 Limit due diligence to direct partners
🔹 Allow cooperative groups joint reporting
🔹 Extend transition periods
➡️ shorturl.at/AY6qa

At our event in the EU Parliament, a retailer from SPAR in the Canary Islands discussed their group of independent retailers' link to the local community.
🔹Each store is adapted to the local needs
🔹Retailers engage in local initiatives
🔹They aim to create cohesion by contributing to their community

At a lively event in the EU Parliament, a large group of independent retailers from across the #EU discussed with MEPs and policy advisors the importance of independent #retail for the EU economy and consumers, its challenges and how the EU Parliament can support them!
👉 tinyurl.com/mpr8rvbc