Do restaurant vouchers mainly benefit supermarkets? A study comes out before the Senate vote

ECONOMY – A dotted future? While the National Assembly urgently adopted on Wednesday November 20 the extension until the end of 2026 of the exemption which allows meal vouchers to be used to purchase all food products, the measure must still be confirmed by a vote in the Senate.

Before the senators speak, the National Commission for Meal Vouchers (CNTR) carried out a study with the marketing company C-Ways, released this Monday, November 25, to assess which economic players benefit from the system. A way of reassuring restaurateurs who denounce the increased use of « tickets-resto » to do their shopping in supermarkets, to the detriment of their use in their establishments.

Big profits for “traditional or fast” restaurants

Based on figures from the CNTR and INSEE for 2024 and 2023, the study first estimates that the system is “a pillar for employment”supporting 76,000 direct jobs in the restaurant sector and fewer than 7,500 in the food distribution sector. If the system is removed, C-Ways has calculated that 40,000 jobs could disappear.

Furthermore, from an economic point of view, “each euro invested by employers in meal vouchers generates 2.70 euros injected into the local economy”according to the study, which calculates that 14 billion euros directly benefited businesses and restaurateurs thanks to meal vouchers in 2023.

Of this total of 14 billion, the study identifies “8.6 billion euros for traditional or fast food, the main beneficiary of the system”. Next come large and medium-sized stores with 2.9 billion euros. Then, with 2.5 billion, local businesses (bakeries, butchers, etc.) are also entitled to a large share of the pie.

Meal vouchers are also “a significant source of revenue for the State, which collects around 3 billion euros per year via VAT, social and employer contributions, as well as corporate and income taxes”according to the study. “After deduction of specific exemptions granted, the net benefit for the State is estimated at 845 million euros per year”souligne C-Ways.

Ceilings based on food purchased?

While Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs Laurence Garnier committed last week to opening discussions on a reform of meal vouchers from 2025, the CNTR wishes to make its contribution to the consultation.

The organization notably proposes the establishment of different ceilings depending on whether the vouchers are used to purchase immediately consumable food preparations or foods requiring preparation (pasta, eggs, fresh meat and fish, etc.), while maintaining a maximum daily ceiling at 25 euros so as not to make the meal voucher a disguised salary.

“Once we have given authorization to use meal vouchers for a purpose, it is difficult to go back”admits Jean-Michel Rousseau. The increased use of teleworking also justifies greater flexibility in their use, underlines the CNTR.

Other proposals: increase the face value of meal vouchers, “to cover the real cost of a balanced meal, estimated between 12 and 19 euros depending on the region and type of restaurant”or even increase the employers’ share in co-financing (currently at 60%).