LONDON, Sept 25 Reuters The world39;s biggest packaged food maker Nestle and dairy giant Danone rely on France for revenue more than any other country in Western Europe, raising the stakes in price negotiations due to begin there next month.

France has long outstripped Germany, Italy, Spain and others as the European Union39;s biggest market for groceries by supermarket revenue, according to research firm IBISWorld.

But with a view to securing price cuts by midJanuary, the French government is bringing forward annual price negotiations between retailers and their suppliers to start by midOctober.

Retailers like Carrefour have accused global consumer goods makers including Nestle, Unilever and Pepsico of not cooperating.

Speaking on Sunday night, French President Emmanuel Macron also criticised the companies for maintaining high prices despite a decline in inflation.

Price freezing doesn39;t work, he said. We must put everyone around the table, and find an agreement on margins.

Carrefour, which has pricing power as France39;s No.2 supermarket operator, last week slapped shrinkflation labels on products that are getting smaller with no reduction in price.

Data compiled for Reuters by Bernstein shows France accounted for an estimated 8 of Activia yogurtmaker Danone39;s total reported sales in 2022, and nearly 4 of Nestle39;s annual sales. In both cases, the United Kingdom came second.

Unilever, with more than 400 brands including Dove soap and Knorr stock cubes,…