Aecoc leaders address inflation and labor challenges at 41st Congress

At the 41st Aecoc Congress in Seville, leaders of the Spanish consumer goods association addressed critical challenges facing the industry, including rising inflation and labor shortages. Ignacio González, president of Aecoc, warned that while food companies are currently absorbing cost increases to protect consumers, the ability to contain food inflation may be limited by geopolitical tensions and rising energy costs.

González called for fiscal measures, such as reducing or eliminating VAT on basic food items, to alleviate the burden on households. He also highlighted the need for a sensible migration policy to fill vacancies in warehouses and retail stores, alongside efforts to combat worker absenteeism and fraud.

Additionally, the congress touched upon the evolving consumer landscape. Pablo Perversi, president of Danone for EMEA, emphasized that brands must create value rather than merely competing on price, noting that significant growth is increasingly driven by entirely new product categories.