Switzerland - The Swiss supermarket chain Migros want to catch up with its largest competitor Coop again in the area of organic products. Therefore Migros now plan to open organic supermarkets in cooperation with the organic chain Alnatura. The first will be established in Zürich. 20 Minutes Online, a Swiss online news program asked its readers about their opinion.
It became clear that many doubted the authenticity of the organic products. Somebody wrote: "Organic is a marketing idea and has in the meantime nothing to do with organic in the sense of natural cultivation and keeping animals in an animal friendly way." Readers are especially of the opinion that the products are to be grown in Switzerland, otherwise they are of the opinion that the products should not qualify for the name organic." Somebody says: "Also with organic products one should be careful about the origin of the products. An organic banana from Ecuador may well be organic, but there is absolutely nothing organic about the miles long transport distances!"
The concept of a large organic supermarket is not popular with many readers, because of another reason. Readers say that for years already there have been organic shops in Zürich and its environment, which will now again be snowed under by a large chain. Many readers would have preferred Migros to start cooperating with agrarians from the region instead of the cooperation with Alnatura. Somebody wrote: "Migros should pay our farmers and vegetable growers a decent price for their products."
There are, however, also readers who are happy with the plans of Migros. Somebody said: "That will be a fantastic shop. It is definitely a move in the right direction. It has been the time for organic supermarkets for a long period. If more people eat organic products the production will become cheaper also."