n.635

Mastrolia New Princes (GS- Carrefour and more): ‘High prices – of the branded industry – slow down consumption’


"The cost structure has changed profoundly. Most commodities, agricultural and non-agricultural, are now at significantly lower levels than the peaks of previous years. The exceptions are limited to a few sectors, such as meat and coffee. Energy costs, both electricity and gas, are also falling sharply,' he says. According to Mastrolia, the rigidity of price lists does not originate in distribution. "High prices squeeze volumes, slow down consumption and end up penalising the entire economic system. It is not in the interest of large retailers to maintain them. The problem lies in a part of the branded industry that continues to defend price structures built in an emergency phase, when costs were significantly higher. Today that phase is over, but the adjustment of price lists has not taken place, creating an obvious disconnect between industrial costs and final prices'. What are the risks in this situation? "The risk is that structural effects are created. If prices do not adjust to real costs, volumes are reduced, demand weakens and a vicious circle is triggered that also penalises the industry itself. The sustainability of margins cannot be separated from the sustainability of consumption'. CorrierEconomia of 19 January 2026 After the one about Confcommercio, another distortion I denounced some time ago, talking about industry margins doping inflation and making consumer spending expensive. Below: an article from December 2025 on GS. Drafted 19 January , updated 22 January 2026

CarrefourInflation
 

n.633

Mercosur: MEPs vote in favour of referring the agreement to the EU Court of Justice


A treaty that, according to its critics, will disrupt European agriculture. It should allow the EU to export more cars, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America, while facilitating the entry of South American beef, sugar, rice, honey and soya into Europe. For its detractors, this will disrupt European agriculture with cheaper imported products that do not necessarily meet EU standards due to insufficient controls.

AgricultureMeat
 

n.632

New ham scandal: what are the consortia doing?


Rats, carcasses and cannibalism on a pig farm Beyond the complaint, the issue concerns traceability and chain responsibilities. Faced with these episodes, the Parma Ham Consortium and the San Daniele Consortium wash their hands of them, since by statute they only oversee the curing of the legs and not the farms. Then there is the issue of health controls. Faced with the recent scandals (Bervini, La Pellegrina and now Cascone) one wonders what is the method followed in veterinary controls, what is the frequency and what are the results? And then what is the future of products that were never relaunched after prosciuttopoli? Below a recently published advertising page

Prosciutto
 

n.631

Mercosur: pesticides and hormones in food?


amicarbazone herbicide, chlorothalonil fungicide, novaluron insecticide and growth hormones in meat? It would seem so, although 1) the precautionary principle, i.e. any food may only be placed on the market if it does not present a health risk, and 2) the obligation to indicate the country of origin on the label should be respected Milena Gabbanelli, Corriere della Sera 19 January 2026 P.S.: Brazil's JBS is the third largest producer of food and the first of meat in the world.

MeatPesticides
 

n.630

Major Brazilian grain traders abandon Amazon conservation pact


Abiove, which includes ADM (ADM.N), Bunge (BG.N), whose members include Cargill, Cofco and Louis Dreyfus, confirmed that it had 'initiated talks' to exit the pact, which is supported by the federal government and environmental groups. The WWF said in a note that the decision was a setback for the environment. The companies' exit from the pact 'weakens one of the most effective tools to combat deforestation in the country' and exposes farmers to increasing climate risks, WWF said. Reuters

AgricultureDeforestationWWF
 

n.628

Amazon tries to limit the duty effect by demanding discounts of up to 30% from suppliers


Amazon sells goods directly and hosts third-party retailers, which account for more than 60 per cent of sales on its platform. Trade lawyers and diplomats have warned that Trump could introduce new tariffs using his powers under alternative legislation if the Supreme Court rules against his current taxes. Amazon has not joined any lawsuits filed by companies and interest groups against the tariff measures, including a lawsuit filed by more than 1,000 retailers, including Costco, seeking duty recovery. Financial Times

Amazon
 

n.627

Prosecco can still be produced in Brazil for the next ten years. The alleged flaws in the EU-Mercosur agreement


The ban on the use of the name by local producers will not come into effect immediately, leaving the door open for a 'timed' Italian sounding, which also concerns Asti and Marsala. The reason? The phasing out clauses... there are passages and loopholes that seem to leave uncovered the age-old wound ofItalian sounding... The treaty, in fact, admits a long transition period from which the South American industry will still be able to take advantage, especially considering that weighty denominations such as Prosecco are in it. One of the reasons why Coldiretti has voiced its opposition and called for a change to what appears to be a legitimisation of misbehaviour... The Prosecco Consortium replied to Coldiretti: 'without the agreement we would not have the tools to intervene'. As I wrote on the subject of Mercosur: 'those who want too much risk squeezing nothing'.Below: Brazilian Garibaldi prosecco. Drafted 15 January, updated 17 January 2026

AgricultureColdiretti
 

n.624

Saks Global declares bankruptcy after Neiman Marcus acquisition leads to financial collapse


Saks Global listed assets and liabilities worth between $1 billion and $10 billion Among the largest unsecured creditors are luxury brands such as Chanel and Kering, owner of Gucci. Saks finalises $1.75bn package to keep shops open Former Neiman van Raemdonck boss named new CEO; Richard Baker exits The iconic brand's decline culminates with Tuesday's bankruptcy filing Reuters. P.S: the share of department stores in the US has fallen from over 14% in 1990 to less than 3% in 2024 (-78%). The example of Sears is interesting.

Non-food