Grocery Shopping on Sundays with Meal Vouchers: A Game-Changer for Many, a Headache for Some
Restaurant Listings Now Accessible on Sundays
Get ready to stock up on groceries on Sundays, thanks to a new government reform in France! This change comes as a relief for people like Sophie Cain, a nurse and mother, who shared, "Fresh produce, it's expensive. If I can buy with meal vouchers, that's great, and on Sundays too. It adds a little excitement when shopping with the family."
However, the response from the restaurant industry isn't quite as sunny. Restaurant owners are evidently disgruntled with this reform, with Romain Vidal, meal voucher representative for the French hotel and restaurant association, expressing his concerns, "We believed this law would be beneficial, but it's been lackluster, to say the least. We've lost everything. We seem to have overlooked our artisans and traders."
The reform, announced by Véronique Louwagie, the Minister of Trade and SMEs on June 25, 2025, will be implemented on January 1, 2027. Its goal is to modernize meal vouchers to fit the evolving lifestyle of telecommuting and preparing meals at home. Employees will now be able to purchase ingredients even on Sundays with their vouchers, though they won't be valid on public holidays to maintain the professional connection. The reform additionally plans to end the issuance of paper vouchers and extend their validity nationwide, while the daily spending limit remains at €25[1][3].
The government is also working towards digitizing the meal voucher system completely by 2027. This will simplify management, and vouchers will last for a year to promote timely use. The reform further proposes making the temporary supermarket acceptance of meal vouchers a permanent feature[1][3].
This change has sparked mixed reactions:
- Consumers/employees: Generally positive, as they now have the flexibility to shop for groceries using vouchers on Sundays, aligning with their modern lifestyles.
- Restaurateurs and hospitality sector: Fear a dip in revenue, estimating potential losses of over a billion euros over two years due to the measure that redirects spending from restaurants to supermarkets[1].
- Voucher providers (e.g., Edenred and Pluxee): Welcomed the reform, especially the digitization and simplification of the meal voucher system. However, the reform proposes the ban of end-of-year discounts on meal vouchers, which might reduce some economic benefits for issuers and restaurant owners[2][3].
In essence, the French government's reform will allow meal vouchers for supermarket food shopping on Sundays starting in 2027, a move that's been widely applauded by consumers and voucher providers but has received resistance from restaurateurs concerned about decreased revenue. The reform also pushes for digitization and nationwide use, reflecting the changing dynamics of work and consumption patterns[1][2][3].
On Sundays, consumers can now expect to purchase groceries using meal vouchers, thanks to the new government reform in France, adding a new dimension to their weekend lifestyle activities. Despite the positive reception from consumers and voucher providers, the restaurant industry expresses concerns about potential revenue loss due to the shift in spending habits from restaurants to supermarkets.
