French retailer Auchan expands sustainable lines
Posted - October 4, 2009
French retailer Auchan expands sustainable lines
By Warren Beaumont
French retailer Groupe Auchan has a strong commitment to sustainable development and promoting environmentally-friendly consumption. Auchan aims to promote high-quality food products, based on sustainable production modes, in particular from the organic sector.
For the last few years, Auchan says the chain has been developing its own ranges in each Western European country: ‘Vida Auchan’ products from Portugal, and ‘Filiera Controllata’ products in Italy; In Spain, Alcampo has developed la Producción Controlada AUCHAN’ range comprising over 120 products and has launched the ‘Producción Ecológica’ range which is organic certified.
For greater clarity, Auchan France has split its range into two brands, Mieux-Vivre Environnement (eco-friendly) and Mieux-Vivre Bio (organic). The chain was also the first retailer to be granted Ecocert certification for the storage and sale of organic food products. This certification applies to its new Auchan Bio range and the national brands it sells. A part of making organic products accessible to everyone by price discounting, this chain has introduced organic sections in all its stores. It has also introduced its own line of 20 cosmetic products, organic certified by Ecocert , carrying the Cosmébio labeling of 100% natural ingredients and presented in recyclable packaging.
The Group has taken practical action to promote a responsible fisheries policy in France by increasing the minimum size of some species, suspending sales of other during their breeding seasons or on the basis of the methods used to catch them, and promoting sales of species where stocks are recognised as being sustainable.
Auchan recently added new products to its Mieux-Vivre Bio and Mieux-Vivre Environnement ranges. The group has added fruit yoghurt, shortcrust pastry, smoked salmon ravioli to the Bio organic offering, and multipurpose cleaning wipes, toilet paper, kitchen roll, compostable bin bags, picture frames, clothing and anti-freeze to its eco-friendly range.
Group sales for the first-half of 2009, reported in August were Euro18.8 billion, while supermarket sales were Euro3.3 billion excluding taxes. The early part of the year saw the completion of the rollout of the Simply Market chain in France, Spain and Poland, while the rollout continued in Italy. In all countries, the majority of stores converted to the Simply Market banner have recorded gradual increases in footfall, which Auchan says confirms the appropriateness of the business model in the present period of economic downturn. During the half-year, 14 new supermarkets were opened (7 Simply Market in Western Europe and 2 in Poland, 2 Fredi in France, and 3 Atak in Russia) while 5 were sold.
Group Auchan operates supermarkets and hypermarkets in countries such as France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, Russia and China under brands such as Auchan, Atak, Sabeco, Sma and Simply Market, its new discount supermarket. This includes: 479 fully-consolidated hypermarkets in 12 countries, and 735 supermarkets in five countries, including 591 Simply Market stores; a property division – 293 managed shopping centres in 12 countries; and banking, with 6.2 million customers in 10 countries.
