Reform of restaurant tickets: a double ceiling of use to please everyone?

The stated objective of this reform is clear: to adapt the system to the new consumption habits of the French, while further supporting the restaurant sector.

Among the main measures envisaged is the introduction of a double usage cap. In concrete terms, employees could benefit from a higher daily cap when they use their vouchers in restaurants, compared to the cap set for food purchases made in supermarkets. This measure directly aims to encourage restaurant visits and limit the excessive use of meal vouchers in supermarkets, a phenomenon nicknamed "ticket-caddie".

Another major change: the reduction of commissions charged by companies issuing meal vouchers. Currently between 5 and 8%, these commissions weigh heavily on restaurateurs. The government thus wishes to cap these fees in order to financially support catering establishments, which have been particularly affected by the health crisis and inflation.

Furthermore, the reform provides for an extension of the days of use of meal vouchers. Currently reserved for employees actually working on those days, the use of vouchers would now be open to all employees on Sundays and public holidays. A measure that responds to the new realities of the world of work, marked in particular by the generalization of teleworking and greater flexibility in professional organization.

This reform comes at a time when the exceptional authorization to use meal vouchers to purchase certain food products that are not directly consumable (meat, flour, oil, etc.) in supermarkets has been extended until end of 2026. Initially introduced during the health crisis to support household purchasing power, this temporary measure had caused discontent among restaurateurs who saw it as direct competition.

With these new measures, the government therefore intends to find a balance between supporting the restaurant sector and adapting to the new consumption habits of the French. It now remains to be seen precisely the final details of this reform, which is eagerly awaited by all stakeholders.