Carts and goods burned, access blocked…: the Intermarché of Quissac, in Gard, targeted by farmers

En colère, les agriculteurs dénoncent la présence de produits espagnols dans les rayons. C.S. – Midi Libre

Several Gard supermarkets were targeted by farmers this Monday, February 19. In Quissac, a check on the origin of products on the shelves degenerated into a fire.

At the call of the FDSEA, around sixty farmers mobilized this Monday, February 19 in Quissac, in the Gard. Initially in support of three of their colleagues whose hearing was scheduled at the gendarmerie at 2 p.m., following an illegal dump that obstructed traffic during last month's massive mobilization.

This hearing was finally cancelled, an operation to control the origin of foodstuffs within the local hypermarket was decided.

"During the current negotiations, the State appears to be listening to farmers. Yet when we are listened to, we don't get summoned by the police! , denounces Patrick Viala, manager of the Welcome network on the farm and farmer.

Butter and vegetables set on fire

At 2:10 p.m., these earth professionals and their machines invade the parking lot of the Intermarché on the route de Sauve, causing the surprise of customers.

Quickly, foodstuffs from European Union countries – mainly Spain – were removed from the shelves without overflow or violence.

Vegetables produced on the other side of the Pyrenees, targets of their anger. C.S. – Midi Libre

A large quantity of butter and vegetables which are then set on fire at the entrance to the store with around ten trolleys a few seconds later.

Under the noses of the gendarmes (Psig of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort and the Quissac brigade), access to the store will finally be blocked by vine branches and lines of carts by the demonstrators.

Quissac, Saint-Christol and Alès

Protesters who denounce with one voice the attitude they consider inflexible " d'Intermarché. In contrast, according to them, to that of Lidl "which is'committed, for example, to remove Spanish wines from its shelves, at least in its stores in  Lunel and Béziers", greets one of the farmers with a masked face.

At 2:20 p.m., firefighters intervened to contain the fire which was quickly brought under control.

Branches and carts were used to block access. Jean-Louis Aubert

In front of the supermarket staff, these dozens of determined farmers left in the direction of Saint-Christol-lès-Alès, where, in addition to damage, violence erupted after tensions with the security service of another Intermarché.

At the end of the afternoon, the procession of their tractors had reached the Hyper U in Alès. The damage caused on site by farmers would be considerable. Not counting the manure set on fire in front of the main entrance, disemboweled wine cubes were dumped on the shelves, on the ground and on food coming from the European Union.

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