For some years, there there have been key market trends within European retail : organic, regio
nal, sustainable. These topics are also playing an important role in Switzerland, especially at Coop, says Marc Muntwyler, Head of Category Management Procurement Fresh Products, in an interview with FreshPlaza.
Coop is the pioneer in organic farming and regional marketing in Switzerland: "Organic and regional products are an integral part of our product range and we have been committed to organic agriculture in Switzerland for 25 years. We have also helped to make this breakthrough by Naturaplan In 1993, and we are the undisputed organic market leader and pioneer in Switzerland; almost every second organic product sold in Switzerland is being sold at Coop."
Regionality is taken very seriously in Switzerland - Coop also has its own brand especially for products in this segment: "We offer products that are specific to each region under our own 'Miini Region' brand. Honey and jam, all the way to beer and wine all the daily necessities." In the future, too, it would like to specifically promote regional and local producers, whereby "Coop is not just about having more and more products in its product range, but rather offering the best as regionally as possible," says Muntwyler.
Similar to many retail chains in Europe, Coop increasingly connects directly with suppliers, thereby optimizing the supply of regional goods to consumers. Muntwyler: "We are in close contact with our suppliers and have long-term partnerships, and there is a general demand for regional products and for products from smaller producers with history and tradition, as well as the growing popularity of our 'Miini Region' brand. In the future we will continue to promote regional and local producers. "
Sustainable development strategy
Sustainability is a very high priority for Coop: "Sustainability is an integral part of our strategy in all areas of our company." As part of the Coop CO2 vision, we have been reducing our emissions continuously for years and have set ourselves the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2023 Under the motto 'Acts instead of words' we summarize our commitment to sustainability for man, animals and nature."
In order to achieve the company's sustainability goals in the market and together with its customers, the Multi-Bag was introduced in autumn 2017. A reusable bag for transporting loose fresh produce. It consists of 100% FSC®-certified cellulose. "The multi-bag is very well received by our customers and to date we have sold more than 1 million multi-bags."
Multi-Bag
But that's not the only sustainable reason to celebrate at Coop. Their alternative packaging was also given an award recently: "We are committed to the responsible use of resources and have reduced or ecologically optimized nearly 20,000 tonnes of packaging materials since 2012. Now we have the Green Packaging Star Award for particularly environmentally friendly packaging for our Multi-Bag. We are very pleased."
FOOBY concept store in Lausanne
Similar to the modern hypermarkets, which are gaining in importance worldwide, Coop opened the FOOBY concept store in Lausanne in March. There you can "shop, watch the production or simply enjoy a coffee in the special atmosphere of the old theater".
Muntwyler also talked about the importance of the market for the chain as a whole: "The FOOBY Concept Store serves as the culinary laboratory for the further development of Fooby and the entire Coop Group, where we can try new and surprising things - in direct exchange with the community." The company thus implemented its popular online concept in the stationary tourism trade.
Impressionen aus dem FOOBY-Store:
At the same time, the FOOBY Concept store is a convenience shop and manufactory at the same time. In addition to Coop own brands, a total of around 20 local suppliers and small factories offer their products in the FOOBY store. Is this the supermarket of the future? "Other FOOBY stores are basically conceivable, but the decisive factor will be that a potential store will have to fit in with the FOOBY concept store, which means a unique location, with charisma."
For more information:
Marilena Baiatu
Coop
Postfach 2550
4002 Basel
Tel: +41 61 336 68 39
marilena.baiatu@coop.ch