(AOF) – Ecomiam, the French number 3 in the specialized distribution of frozen products, has published store sales for the 1st half of the 2022/23 financial year (period from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023) up 19 .4% to 22.19 million euros. The group emphasizes that this commercial performance is supported by the gradual ramp-up of the 29 points of sale opened in 2020/21 in new regions, which mainly contribute to the increase in footfall (+7.8% for the whole of the network in the first half of 2022/23).
“In view of the good level of activity achieved in this first part of the 2021/22 financial year”, ecomiam “anticipates a slight improvement in the gross margin”.
With a network of 65 points of sale as of March 31, 2023, the Group remains focused in the short term on improving the performance of its existing network while reaffirming its 2025 ambitions of reaching 125 points of sale.
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Soaring energy prices and a call for help
In the past, energy represented a fixed cost of 3% of turnover. This year, this percentage rises to 5% or even 7% for VSEs-SMEs, according to Ania (National Association of Food Industries). Professionals are very worried because until the end of 2022 they generally benefit from coverage to cushion these increases. However, they have not been renewed for 2023 and after. Consequently, 25 of the main inter-professional organizations (Intercereals, Inaporc, Semae, etc.) are calling on the State for help in the face of the erosion of their margins and their capacity to investment.
The State has proposed several devices, including an “electricity damper”, which are deemed insufficient. The organizations also deplore the failure of European negotiations to achieve a tariff shield to avoid distortions of competition. Agriculture and agri-food require a maximum ceiling price of €180/MWh, while many companies buy at prices above €500/MWh on the French market.