Paris, October 6, 2025 — France’s Autorité de la concurrence will hold on-site meetings with stakeholders as part of a food pricing inquiry in Martinique to assess the mark-ups applied by wholesale importers and retailers of basic food items. The move follows a formal request from the Ministers of the French Overseas Territories and the Economy, amid rising concerns over the high cost of living in the French Caribbean territory.
This analysis will contribute to the French government’s broader effort to address structural issues leading to the higher cost of living in Martinique, compared to mainland France. To conduct the inquiry, a delegation from the Autorité is visiting the island this week, led by Gwenaëlle Nouët, Deputy General Rapporteur and Advisor for French Overseas Territories, accompanied by several case officers from the Investigation Services.
The team will meet with business leaders, trade associations, social partners, local authorities, and the prefecture to gather firsthand insights into the functioning of the food supply chain.
The inquiry follows earlier reports by the competition authority on import and distribution mechanisms and on competition conditions in France’s overseas territories. Together, these analyses have highlighted persistent structural issues affecting market efficiency and consumer affordability in the French Caribbean.
The final report is expected to be submitted to the French government in early 2026.
