By Maxime T’sjoen
Published on
updated on 28 Jul 22 at 11:57
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Provide dignified meals for employees. It is in this spirit that were adopted, in 1967, restaurant vouchers. At the beginning devoted to traditional restaurantsthe process then evolved into snacking, fast food then extended to mass distribution.
With a ceiling of 19 euros daily, restaurant vouchers are paid in part (50 to 60%) by employers. The government is currently working on raising the ceiling from 19 to 25 euros after long months when “restaurant tickets” were capped at 38 euros, to encourage consumers to return to restaurants during the health crisis.
However, if you can think that you can buy everything with your card or your checks, rules established by the Ministry of the Economy and its National Restaurant Vouchers Commission define their use. Here’s what you need to know.
What you can buy
Of course, you can use in your restaurant vouchers in all brands embellished catering. This ranges from traditional restaurants to fast food brands.
In addition, with certain cards issuing restaurant vouchers (Edenred for example) it is also possible to order via food delivery apps.
In supermarkets, only certain products are concerned. “When we opened the system to supermarkets, several commitments were made”, indicates the National Commission for Restaurant Vouchers (CNTR) to news.fr.
Thus, a control system has been established on eligible products. These are the immediately consumable dishes. The list of products is validated by the CNTR, and the automatic cash register of supermarkets must specify what amount it is possible to pay in restaurant vouchers.
Thus, here is a list of the products that can be purchased according to the CNTR:
Fresh products
- Delicatessen
- Dairy desserts
- Cheeses – Yoghurts
- Fruits and vegetables
- Milk
- Ready meals
- Fresh processed fish
- Prepared salads
- Snacking
- Savory pies – quiches – pizzas
- caterer
- Prepared meats ready to cook
- Fresh processed meat
- preserves
Salty groceries
- Ready meals
- Processed fish
- Prepared meats ready to cook
- Processed meat
Sweet groceries
- Bakery excluding pastries
Frozen
- Ready meals
- Frozen processed fish
- Snacking
- Frozen foods excluding desserts and sorbet ice cream
- Savory pies – quiches – pizzas
- Prepared meats ready to cook
- Frozen processed meat
Drinks
- Still and sparkling water
- Fruit juices and soft drinks.
Is my employer obliged to provide meal vouchers?
No, the employer is not obliged to provide meal vouchers to its employees. However, if he decides to do so, he must obtain securities from the issuing companies:
– Groupe Up (formerly Chèque Déjeuner) which issues Chèques Déjeuner;
– Edenred (formerly Accor), which issues Tickets Restaurant;
– Sodexo, which issues restaurant vouchers, also called “Restaurant Pass”;
– Natixis Intertitres, which issues “Apetiz” securities.
What you can’t buy
If “most brands respect the commitments made, others are a little less scrupulous”, specifies the CNTR. Indeed, in some cases, the brands do not respect the list of products and it is possible to buy others.
In this case, if the brand does not respect the established charter, ” the CNTR can go so far as to withdraw the approval“.
It is therefore, in theory, forbidden to buy alcoholic beverages, ice cream, sorbets, pastries, unprocessed meat or fish, pasta, rice, starches and other basic products sold in the grocery department.
More generally, it is not possible, in theory, to purchase non-food items.
As a reminder, restaurant vouchers are supposed to provide the midday meal for the employees.
The senators, who will examine the purchasing power law, have already planned to file an amendment to relax these rules. It provides until December 31, 2023, for the purchase of any food product, whether or not it is directly edible.
other rules
It should also be noted that other rules exist for the use of restaurant vouchers.
It is possible to use it from Monday to Saturday. It is only on Sundays and on public holidays that the card or restaurant vouchers cannot be used.
Also, meal vouchers are meant to be used only in the department of your place of work as well as neighboring departments. Normally, it is not allowed to use it elsewhere. However, the holders of these titles notice that this rule is not always respected…
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