Carrefour Belgium works directly with 1,000 local producers of fruit, vegetables and herbs

2024-07-29 10:47:05

Twelve years after the start of the initiative to promote local products Carrefour Belgium already working with 1000 local producersCEO Geoffroy Gersdorff announced to the Brussels Times.

(We remind: The territory of Belgium is three times smaller than the territory of Bulgaria and it is 30,688 square km.)

The scheme, which was initially implemented in a few hypermarkets, now extends to all 710 Belgian Carrefour stores that stock products from at least one local producer based within a 40 kilometer radius of the store.

Collaboration with local suppliers has led to a “paradigm shift” at Carrefour Belgium, emphasizing the direct relationship between store managers and local suppliers, Gersdorff stressed.

The local vendors themselves set prices, both wholesale and retail, on the recommendation of the store manager. The distributor reduced administrative costs and changed its payment terms, allowing local producers to receive payments faster than with larger suppliers. “Unlike some competitors, we do not demand exclusivity. We allow manufacturers to grow at their own pace,” continued the CEO.

Over the past 12 years, the initiative has helped create entrepreneurial success stories: “Some local suppliers have grown into regional or even national manufacturers. We are proud that they have supported their growth,” said Gersdorff.

Although he is “very proud of the work achieved” which has inspired other branches of the Carrefour group internationally, Gersdorff admits that “this is only the beginning” and affirmed that the constant search for additional producers continues, especially those offering fresh produce, small-scale vegetable gardening and aromatic herbs.

“The 720,000 customers who visit our stores every day have a role to play. With their purchases, with their choices, they have real power and can change our product ranges. If the customer demands more local products, we will provide more. It’s up to us if we can support that,” Gersdorff said.