OK Snacks - high quality, broad range and many different types of products and flavors.

OK Snacks A/S is among the world's leading producers of crunchy, crispy pork rinds and also offers a complementary quality assortment of snacks, popcorn, peanuts, crisps and Tex-Mex varieties. These are in the form of our own label as well as private label production.

OK SNACKS A/S IS AMONG THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCERS OF CRUNCHY, CRISPY PORK RINDS

THE WORLD'S BEST PORK CRACKLING PRODUCTS

Since the establishment of the company in 1982, we have focused on delivering the world's best pork rinds products. The high quality of our raw products and quality characterises the broad range of snack and special products which the company produces and markets today. Through constant product development, we can always offer an assortment that meets the demands of the market for renewal and new flavour varieties.

Our production is fully automatic with modern monitoring equipment and the latest technologies within robot operation. We employ about 80 people and currently export to more than 20 different countries

Semi-manual production of frozen products: - BACON ROLLS (beans in bacon, dried fruit in bacon, shrimps in bacon..) - SKEWERS (meat, fish, vegetable skewers) - COOKED MEAT (grilled spare ribs, pork knuckle, pork loin....)

Aldi is a private discount store retailer. Made up of independent operating companies, the company started its journey in 1913 as a small grocery under the name Albrecht Diskont in Germany. After the sons took over the company, the business was divided in to Adi Nord and Aldi Sud. Theo Albrecht presided Aldi Nord while Karl managed Aldi Sud. All stores were organised as independently operated companies with around 35 companies for Aldi Nord and 31 companies for Aldi Sud. The specialty retailer Trader Joe's was even acquired by Aldi Nord in 1979.

Aldi expanded both on a national scale and internationally, now having 8125 stores worldwide.

The company deals with products such as food, beverages but also non-food items such as

• electrical products
• household products
• clothes

Aldi has been concentrating on its expansion hence the new store in San diego has expanded to 22,000 square feet and even projects to have 2500 stores in the United States by 2020. With this plan, Aldi aims to reach 100 million clients monthly.

Alon Israel Oil Co. was renamed as Alon Holdings Blue Square-Israel post acquisition. This company is listed in Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). They operate in different segments viz. 

• Mega Retail (supermarkets under different formats)
• BEE Group non foods, specialty outlets
• Real Estate

Alon is the largest retail group in Israel, operating 212 supermarkets, 138 nonfood specialty outlets out of which 21 are franchised with the Bee Group. They took over Dor Alon, which included 202 fueling stations and 209 convenience stores in October 2010. 

The Supermarket Segment operates in four formats: 

1. 119 Mega In Town neighborhood stores
2. 67 Mega Bool discount stores
3. 15 large Zol Beshefa hard discount outlets that cater to the price-sensitive Ultra-Orthodox sector
4. 20 Eden Teva Markets featuring natural and organic products. 

The company has 85% owned subsidiary which includes Bee Group Retail (formerly called Kfar HalShaashuim), which operates 138 non-food retail stores under the following seven formats:

• 81 Kfar Hashalashuim toy stores
• Sheshet houseware and gift stores
• Vardinon home textile stores
• Naaman Porcelain home and kitchenware shops
• Rav-Kat
• Dr. Baby
• All for a Dollar

 They have also expressed interests around commercial real estate.

Axfood is a Swedish wholesaler and grocery retailer which launched in 2000. The company is a subsidiary of Axel Johnson and was launched with the aim of providing high quality and sustainable products to its clients. Over 4 million customers purchase products from Axfood through various stores. 

Axfood supplies to around 1200 stores which involve 325 stores owned by the group. Furthermore, the firm’s products can be bought online. The firm has emerged as one of the market leaders in the industry in Sweden. 

The business employs 12772 employees and in 2022, achieved a turnover of €6.4 billion. Axfood is listed on the stock exchange since 1997 and in 2006, was listed on NASDAQ Stockholm’s Large Cap list. 

Axfood owns several companies which include:

Willys: a food retail chain with 200 stores in Sweden. The chain is known for its low prices. Willys also operate 50 smaller shops under another name, Willy Hemma. The company also runs an online shop.

Hemkop: a grocery chain with 187 stores out of which 70 are owned by the group. The firm launched its online shop in 2016. Among its products, one can find a variety of organic and vegetarian products.

Axfood Snabbgross: A wholesaler which supplies restaurants, cafes and other businesses in Sweden’s HoReCa sector. The company offers over 13000 references.

Mat.se:  An online shop offering grocery items. The firm is known for offering innovative options to customers and is constantly testing new concepts.

Middagsfrid: founded in 2007, the firm offers meal kits in the form of pre-packed grocery bags which are delivered to customers. Middagsfrid is a subsidiary of Mat.se

Eurocash: Eurocash consists of 8 stores and has is considered to be one of the largest food retailers on the Norwegian border.

Dagab: The logistics company which is responsible for managing the stocks and the logistics for Axfood.

Apohem: An online pharmacy founded in 2017 

Tempo: a chain of 134 grocery stores 

Urban Deli: Axfood is the major partner in Urban Deli, a chain of speciality stores which also operate a restaurant and an indoor market. There are currently 3 stores in Sweden. 

Handlar’n: a chain of of 224 mini-marts

Axfood has also developed several own brands including:

Garant: a brand of organic products which include milk, cheese, pasta and olive oils

Minstingen: a brand of baby care products which was launched in 2016

Eldorado: a range of grocery products including rice, olive oil and cereals.

Saklart:  a brand of household products and personal care items

Premier:  a brand of soft drinks 

Fixa: a brand of household products that includes various laundry and cleaning products

Axfood launches more than 300 new products under its private labels every year. 

Axfood has a code of conduct which clearly stipulates its requirements and regulations concerning employment rights and ethical behaviour . Suppliers wishing to work with the company have to abide by this code of conduct. At present, there are around 1500 suppliers who supply axfood with products based on the company’s criteria. 

Concerning the private labels, Axfood has devised a specific process on how products are developed. First, Axfood will set the criteria for quality based on taste, content, ingredients, forbidden ingredients and allowed ingredients. Once the criteria is defined, suppliers are invited to submit proposals along with samples. 

Axfood carries out tests on the samples and selects three to four suppliers. The firm can request changes to improve the products. Once this is done, further tests are carried out. This includes testing by a panel of 60 consumers.

Based on the results, Axfood will select the supplier which meets all the specifications and sign an agreement. The packaging is also designed Axfood’s requirements and the product is launched and distributed to Axfood and its different stores. 

Axfood manages several warehouses and around 600 000 cases are delivered each day. Axfood is now also operating a fully automated warehouse. The company’s vehicles are modern and Axfood has also announced that it would be introducing more fossil-free trucks to its fleet.

BİM Birleşik Mağazalar A.Ş. (BİM) is a leading Turkish retail company, pioneering the discount store model in Turkey since its foundation in 1995. The company specializes in selling a focused range of basic food items and consumer goods, providing customers with high-quality products at affordable prices. BİM's product portfolio includes approximately 900 items covering food, drinks, and beauty-related consumer goods, with a strong emphasis on private label products.

BİM operates a large network of company-owned stores only, rejecting franchise models, which positions it as a major competitor to small independent neighborhood stores. As of the end of 2024, the company operates 12,089 stores under the BİM brand in Turkey alone, with an additional presence through FILE stores, totaling 12,376 locations. Their store network includes supermarkets as the primary selling points, complemented by distribution centers and warehouses to support efficient operations and inventory management.

Carrefour is a French international hypermarket chain founded in 1959. It is not only the largest hypermarket chain in the world in terms of size, but also the second largest retail group globally in terms of revenue as well as the third largest in profit after WalMart and Tesco. Carrefour serves around 13 million customers globally.

Furthermore, Carrefour operates mainly in Europe, Asia and Latin America, but also has stores in Africa. The company manages a total of 12 225 stores, either owned or franchised, in over 30 countries. 

Carrefour operates several stores under the following category across the world:

• 1207 Hypermarkets
• 3412 Supermarkets
• 7193 conveniences stores
• 413 Cash & Carry stores

The Group also owns an Iranian subsidiary, Hyper Star. 

An online shop is also available on the website. Moroever, in 2021, Carrefour launched occasion.carrefour.fr in order to provide an online platform where  second-hand products are offered. 

Moreover, Carrefour has also launched a new Ok Market! application, paired with a shopper service, which provides personalized e-commerce service as well as home delivery. 

Pertaining to delivery services, Carrefour and Everli formed a partnership in 2021, offering  French consumers a choice of up to 20,000 products. 

As of June 2018, the firm entered into partnership with Google to sell food online in France. This mission has been set up to make Carrefour the leader in grocery e-commerce. The project launched in early 2019. 

The Group has also announced a strategic partnership with Meta. Furthermore, in 2021, Carrefour Group and Coop Nordics reaffirmed their strategic partnership, extending it to include international brands.

In 2020, Carrefour launched its first hypermarket in Kampala, Uganda. The new hypermarket, launched in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim Group. Furthermore, in 2021, the company signed a deal with Shoprite to acquire 6 of its stores in Uganda. 

The enterprise also took over the organic chain Bio C'Bon. Carrefour's subsidiary, So.bio, will be managing the operations of the Bio C'Bon stores. Currently, these two brands have around 160 points of sale across the country. 

Moreover, Carrefour acquired Potager City, a business involved in the sale of online subscription boxes of fresh vegetables and fruits. Potager City works with 750 local producers. The acquisition will help Carrefour to expand its e-commerce business.

The firm then took over Dejbox, a business which is an online business which delivers lunches across France.  The business delivers around 400 000 meals per month.  

In 2021, Carrefour opened its first autonomous store which operates using artificial intelligence. In the same year, the enterprise announced the opening of its new store in Gabon with its franchise partner Prix Import.

In collaboration with AiFi, the company also lauched Flash 10/10 store which offers customers the fastest and most accessible shopping experience. 

In 2020, Carrefour has achieved a total turnover of € 70.7 billion. Additionally, the company employs over  321,000 people across the world. 

The firm provides a wide assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, cookies, cakes, cereals, etc.
• Savory Grocery: soups, pasta, rice, oil, vinegar, sauces, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: seafood, meat, poultry, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready meals, ice cream, meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, etc.
• Dairy: butter, margarine, eggs, cheese, milk, etc.
• Drinks: water, fruit juices, vegetable juices,etc
• Wine & Spirits: wine, spirits, gins, etc.
• Personal Care: oral care, makeup, face care, skincare, etc.
• Household: detergents, deodorants, laundry care, etc. 

Several items which are bio, gluten-free, vegan, etc, are also offered. 

Carrefour generates up to 40% of its total revenue through its own brands and aims to reach half of its retail sales through private labels in the next few years as it will expand its ranges in food and non-food categories. 

Nowadays, 73% of the group’s own brand products are manufactured by SMEs and local suppliers generating up to 10 000 private labels, in almost all categories and segments. These include brands such as: 

• Carrefour:  including Carrefour Baby, Carrefour Kids, Carrefour Halal and Carrefour Exotique (foreign food) — and “Bon’app” (snacks) for budget to mid-priced products.
• Reflets de France and Terre d’Italia: for artisanal and regional specialties sourced in France and Italy.
• Carrefour Bio: for organic food and non-food as well as for fair trade, Filière Qualité Carrefour for quality sourced food products, Carrefour Eco Planet for organic HPC and Carrefour Sans Gluten for gluten free products.
• Selection Carrefour: for Premium ranges.
• Tex: for clothing.
• Cosmetiques Design Paris: the brand launched in 2012 for beauty and personal care. 

Pertaining to Carrefour’s Bio branded products, the firm has decided to ban 100 controversial ingredients from all the food products. Also, they are aiming to diminish the use of chemical pesticides in the livestock areas and feed GMO-free grains.

It must be noted that currently Carrefour works with 27 800 suppliers for its own brands. 

In the breeding sector, Carrefour is going to reduce antibiotic treatments. Thanks to the blockchain, Carrefour is able to assure transparency of products.  

Furthermore, 92% of its seasonal fruits and vegetables are of French origin. 

Carrefour is interested in providing to its consumers certified fish through Aquaculture.

In relation to the supply chain, the company partnered with Plug Power Inc to establish 137 Plug Power GenDrive-powered electric forklifts for the two to three shift operation in its distribution centre.

With regards to the environment, Carrefour indulges in several measures such as  reducing its CO2 emissions, fighting against deforestation and for the protection of water resources, etc. Furthermore, the enterprise aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. 

The online shop can be accessed at: www.carrefour.fr 

Founded in 1898 by Geoffroy Guichard, Groupe Casino initially operated as Guichard-Perrachon & Co. Headquartered in France, the firm is present in the Retail Distribution sector and owns around 12,271 stores in total. The compay is currently recognised as the leading local group in France. 

With a workforce of around 205,000 employees, the company achieved a turnover of € 31.9 billion in 2020. 

The Group also owns the Colombian subsidiary, Grupo Éxito.

Moreover, Groupe Casino also operates e-formats such as Cnova and Cdiscount. The latter is recognised as the 2nd leading e-commerce in France. 

In 2017, the company partnered with the delivery firm, Ocado. Additionally, the enterprise has also signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the delivery group, Gorillas.

Groupe Casino has developed several private labels over time. Some of them are:

• Casino: a range of food and non-food items
• Casino Delices: a brand of food products
• Casino Bio: a brand featuring organic products
• Casino Saveurs D’Ailleurs: a variety of food stuff

The central purchasing unit of Casino, AMC, remains the preferred point of entry for suppliers ensuring that retail strategies are put into perspective.

Around 159 products that are offered in its stores are locally sourced. 

Concerning the environment, the firm has not only successfully reduced 37% of its carbon footprint but also, has launched GreenYellow, a subsidiary dedicated to energy production and energy consumption. The company has also banned plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables. 

With regards to the society, the Groupe Casino foundation indulges in several measures such as fighting against the cultural exclusion of the under-privileged, supporting their education, fighting  child malnutrition, etc. Furthermore, the group also donated more than 37 million meals to food banks.

Founded in 1992 through the alliance of 10 businessmen to purchase a network of grocery stores, CBA has evolved to be one of the largest supermarket chains in Hungary. 

The group is present in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia. At present, CBA operates a total of 5200 stores, including 154 in Bulgaria. 

CBA employs 30000 people.

CBA offers products in the following categories:

• Drinks: mineral water, ice tea, spirits, fruit drinks, etc.

• Savory Grocery: olive oil, canned food, sauces, etc.

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, biscuits, candy, etc.

• Dairy: eggs, butter, cheese, cream, yoghurt, etc.

• Frozen Food: meat, poultry, seafood, ice cream, ready-meals, etc.

• Chilled & Fresh Food: sausages, charcuterie, ham, etc.

• Household: detergents, cleaning equipment, air fresheners, etc.

Grillbars, bakeries, butcher corner and wine shops are additional services proposed by the supermarket chain. Operating under different formats, CBA is available as discount stores under the name CBA cent as well as hypermarkets under the name Prima.

Concerning the logistics, CBA manages a 5-storey warehouse with a floor area of 18000m2 in Budapest.

The Co-operative Group, which began in 1844, is known as the largest customer-owned business and the fifth largest food retailer in the UK. The group has 4.6 million members.

The Co-operative Group is involved in the following areas of business:

• Food retailing and wholesaling

• Funeral provider

• Life planning services

• Insurance

• Banking

• Pharmaceutical 

The Co-operative Group operates 2582 food stores, including 102 which were launched in 2018. During that same year, the group also opened its first Co-op franchise store. In addition to this, the business also acquired Nisa, hence now owning 4000 Nisa stores. 

The Co-operative Group acquired Dimec, a digital platform in 2019. The acquisition indicates a return to the healthcare market with a focus on online business. The Co-operative Group is also investing in technology for various areas of business. For the food segment, it is currently testing robotic home delivery and “pay in aisle” technology. 

For 2018, The Co-operative Group’s turnover was € 12.2 billion, indicating an increase of 14% as compared to the previous year’s turnover. It must be noted that the Food segment has registered a growth of 4.4% in revenue for 2018. 

In 2016, the group was awarded convenience retailer of the year at the Retail Industry awards.

While the products are collectively sourced, the Co-op brand can be found in more than 3500 premises, having the largest geographical spread.

Concerning the logistics, the company has invested € 33.4 million in order to modernize its current distribution centres. A further € 53.7 million has been injected so as to build a new distribution centre. 

The Co-operative Group is also concerned about the community. The company provides education in deprived parts of the country and has created the Co-op Academies. By 2018, the number of schools joining Co-op Academies is 18. 

The Co-operative Group has been committed to using renewable sources of energy since 2005. Nowadays, all the electricity consumed by the group and its subsidiaries come from UK wind farms. In addition to this, the group has succeeded in reducing its green gas emissions by 50%. 

Furthermore, all palm oil used in The Co-operative Group’s products are sustainable and have been certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil since 2012. 

UPDATES ON THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP ON 20/02/2020

For 2020, The Co-operative Group is looking for products in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: desserts and ice cream

• Dairy: yoghurts, milk, cream, butter, margarine, etc.

The Co-operative Group is also sourcing dairy-free products for all its categories. The products should be vegan and/or free-from range. The group is highly interested in products such as ice-cream, desserts, cheesecakes, milk, spreads, cheese, savory goods, etc. The Co-operative Group has a preference for working with a supplier that can supply all the dairy-free products mentioned under the group’s private labels. 

Coop Group is a cooperative that operates as a retail and wholesale company. Coop Group has been operating in Switzerland since 1969 following a merger between several cooperatives in the country.

Coop offers more than 50000 SKUs in the food and non-food segmentsin Switzerland. 

The firm operates various supermarkets, mega stores, department stores, specialty stores and production facilities. Being a consumer cooperative, the firm represents around 2.5 million members.

In the retail sector, Coop Group manages a total of 2333 supermarkets and convenience stores under the following banners:

• Coop to Go
• Fooby
• Sapori D’Italia
• Karma Shop
• Coop Supermarkets

In the wholesale sector, the subsidiary Transgourmet Holding handles all the wholesale and cash &carry activities. 

As a manufacturer, Coop Group manages different subsidiaries including Bell Food Group that provides convenience products across Europe. The company has been focussing on sustainable products. 

Coop is also present in the restaurant catering business, operating 178 Coop Restaurants and Coop Take It outlets. 

Coop Group achieved a turnover of € 28.4 billion in 2019 and employed 90000 people. 

Coop Group offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: spices, condiments, canned food, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: cereals, jams, canned fruits, etc.
• Drinks: soft drinks, juices, beers, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, butter, milk, yogurt, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruits, vegetables, charcuterie, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice-cream, ready-meals, seafood, etc. 
• Personal Care: skincare, face care and other products

The selection of products consists of both national and international branded products as well as own-label brands. Coop Group operates several private labels that include (but not limited to):

• Betty Bassi: a range of fresh products
• Delicom: a brand of meat alternative products
• Karma: a brand featuring vegan and vegetarian products
• Primagasto: fruits and vegetables
• Sapori D’Italia: a range of Italian products
• Naturaline Cosmetics: a range of natural beauty products

Coop Group holds different certifications such as MSC, Demeter, Biosuisse, FSC, etc. 

Coop Group has been on becoming a sustainable organisation and has been taking a number of measures. Firstly, Coop Group has been involved in developing innovative products with eco-friendly packaging. Furthermore, the business sources raw materials that are traceable for its manufacturing businesses.

Founded in 1906 by Ferdinand Salling, Salling Group is a retail group operating a number of retail and departmental chains offering clothing, groceries, food services, etc.

Based in Denmark, the business has a market share of 34.9% in the physical grocery trade category and 33% in the online grocery trade. Salling Group has expanded in the UK, Germany and Poland. 

In 2020, Salling Group took over Tesco Poland which consists of 301 shops. This acquisition strengthens the group’s presence in Poland. Salling Group has also announced that all Tesco Poland stores will be converted into Netto stores.

As of 2021, the business operated a total of 1,719 stores in different countries under the following banners: 

• Netto Denmark (525 stores)
• Netto Germany (342 stores)
• Netto Poland (654 stores)
• Bilka (19 stores)
• Fotex and Fotex Food (107 stores)
• Salling (2 stores)
• BR (29 stores)
• Starbucks (15 stores)
• Carl’s Jr. (16 stores)
• Basalt (10 stores)

In addition to its physical stores, Salling Group has a bunch of online shops such as bilka.dk, fotex.dk, salling.dk, foetex Home Delivery, flowr, skagenfood.dk, husets forsikring.dk and bilkatogo.dk. 

Furthermore, Salling Group is also a franchisee operating Starbucks and Carl’s Jr. restaurant chains across Denmark. 

Salling Group runs the meal box delivery company, Skagenfood, which has developed different online stores for its different banners. 

As of 2015, the firm introduced the first MobilePay solution by collaborating with Fiftytwo. This solution is used in all its stores.

In the financial year 2021, Salling Group reported a turnover of €8.8 billion and currently employs 61,874 employees from 164 nationalities. 

The group developed its own brands which are:

• Vores: a large choice of convenience products
• Levevis: includes both food and non-food items
• Princip: gourmet products at competitive prices for Netto
• Budget: basic products at affordable prices
• VRS: Danish clothing brand
• OGO: a range of organic products developed for Netto
• SCO: a brand of classic bicycles in Denmark

In 2021, Salling Group partnered with Naveo in order to provide online shopping and delivery services to its customers through its brand Fotex. 

In 2022, Salling Group launched its new discount chain under the banner “Basalt” which offers cheaper prices than traditional discount stores. 

Continuing its work towards reducing food waste, Salling Group has adopted the latest technology, Apeel which helps retailers preserve fresh food for a longer period of time.

Pertaining to the logistics solutions, the firm operates the city’s largest warehouse which consists of 100 000 pallets hence ensuring the smooth running of the supply chain. Salling Group optimized its supply chain from vendors to end consumers by introducing the cross docking functionality in SAP EWM. The company works with third-party delivery companies concerning the distribution of products. 

Salling Group is aiming at reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. Furthermore, the company is also taking measures to reduce plastic packaging by 30% for its own brands by 2023. In relation to this, Fotex stores no longer provide plastic tableware.   

Ahold Delhaize was founded in 2016, following a merger between Ahold and Delhaize Group. Delhaize Group has been in business since 1867 while Ahold started its operations in 1887. 

The merger led to Ahold Delhaize becoming one of the largest retail groups in the world. Indeed, nowadays Ahold Delhaize serves around 54 million customers.

Ahold Delhaize’s headquarters is based in the Netherlands and the company operates 6500 stores in 11 countries including Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, USA, Serbia, etc. 

In June of 2020, Ahold Delhaize partnered with Instacart to provide home delivery from more than 750 stores operating under the Hannaford, Food Lion, Giant Food, and Stop & Shop brands.

The company expanded in the USA by acquiring the online grocer, FreshDirect, in the fiscal year 2020.

An online marketplace named Ship2Me was introduced by Ahold Delhaize in 2021. It features food and merchandise items.

In Indonesia and Portugal, Ahold Delhaize has set up stores by forming joint ventures with local companies.

Ahold Delhaize operates its stores under several different banners:

• Food Lion
• Giant
• Hannaford
• Stop & Shop
• Delhaize
• Albert Heijn
• Etos
• Gall & Gall
• Albert
• Alfa Beta
• Ena
• Maxi
• Tempo
• Mega Image
• Pingo Doce
• Super Indo

Furthermore, Ahold Delhaize runs the online shopping platform, bol.com, which brought in €4.3 billion in sales in 2020.

In 2020, Ahold Delhaize’s turnover reached €74.7 billion. The company currently employs 380 000 people. 

Ahold Delhaize is aiming at supplying a wider range of healthy products and is constantly bringing in new products. Furthermore, the business intends to be more transparent concerning its sourcing. 

Concerning sustainability, Ahold Delhaize is also focussing on reducing its waste.

Dunnes Stores is Ireland's largest and leading retailer, founded in 1944 by Ben Dunne. It operates a unique combination of food, fashion, and homewares stores, primarily focusing on grocery supermarkets alongside clothing and household goods. Many larger Dunnes locations feature cafés branded either as Café Sol or Dunnes Stores Café. The company is privately owned and has maintained a strong market presence in Ireland, recognized for its "Better Value" philosophy, which emphasizes delivering quality products at competitive prices.

With approximately 138 stores distributed across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Spain, Dunnes Stores operates extensively in physical retail and online platforms. In Ireland alone, there are around 118 outlets. The company employs over 18,000 people in these regions, underscoring its significant footprint in the retail sector. Dunnes is a dominant player in the Irish grocery market, consistently holding a top-three market share alongside Tesco and SuperValu, and has been Ireland's number one supermarket since 2018.

The grocery section typically comprises fresh and local produce, supported by exclusive brands such as their own 'My Family Favourites' range, previously known as St Bernard. They also offer award-winning lines like the "Simply Better" range. In fashion and homewares, Dunnes promotes affordable quality, including collaborations with renowned Irish designers like Paul Costelloe and Carolyn Donnelly and produces in-house brands like Savida and Gallery.

Dunnes Stores supports a range of selling points including supermarkets, convenience stores, distribution centers, and warehouses across Ireland. Its retail innovation includes pioneering Ireland's first out-of-town shopping center in 1966 at Cornelscourt, which remains a flagship store. The company also actively supports local Irish suppliers, enriching its product offerings.

Financially, Dunnes Stores operates in the turnover bracket of 1 to 10 billion euros as of recent estimates around 2024. Its extensive retail network and multi-channel approach position it as a key partner for manufacturers and suppliers aiming to engage the Irish market with food, drinks, and beauty products.

E. Leclerc is a private cooperative that regroups over 500 independent retailers. The group is a major actor, in the French market with 653 outlets in France and 117 outlets in Europe. The group is composed of 600 drives-through and 562 shop owners.

The group focusses on formats like hypermarkets, supermarkets, city outlets and drives-through and has 20.2% of the market share. The drives-through has 7460 SKUs.

E. Leclerc has expanded by developing a  multi-channel approach  and emphasizing its online activities. Furthermore, Leclerc launched its "Cultural Space" concept store for books, music, videogames etc. 

In terms of distribution, E. Leclerc has  16 warehouses  across France. The group is active in many such business activities such as: drugstores (Parapharmacy E. Leclerc) or even Beauty Shops (One Hour For Soi). 

Leclerc's private labels are managed by its subsidiary  Scamark , an organism which oversees sourcing and developing the retailer's own brands. The private labels which count  over 6000  are as follow:

• Brand reference  (5313 references)
• Eco +  (680 references)
• Our regions have talent  (370 references)

The group's products are provided by 800 suppliers and 800 new products are launched each year. Priority is given to SMBs.

Leclerc provides 1,600 references in Grocery (branded mark) and  250 references  (Eco +), provided by  230 suppliers . For personal care, the revenue is estimated at  700 million euros  and  1000 references  including  100 references  (Eco +), provided by  900 suppliers.

Brand as well as divided into  brands  (such as grilled brands)

• Brand repere Lydog- products for dogs
• Brand repere lycat - products for cats
• Brand repere apple smooth - chips
• Brand fishing marks ocean - fish products

As well as sweet grocery brands:

• Brand repere p'tit dej
• Brand mark confiseo - sweets
• Brand repere tablet gold - chocolates
• Brand repere mamie douceur - jams

Established in 1957, Esselunga is an Italian retail chain. The company is now a subsidiary of Supermarkets Italiani which is owned by the Caprotti family.

The business has a total of 171 stores across the country. It also offers an online platform with home delivery facilities. 

In the financial year 2021, it achieved a turnover of €8.56 billion and employs 25,000 employees.

The Group’s network includes two production centres, including one in Limito di Pioltello for delicatessens and fresh pastries and one in Parma for the production of fresh pasta and bakery products. It also consists of three distribution centres, located in Limito di Pioltello, Biandrate and Florence.

It offers a variety of products under different categories such as: 

• Sweet grocery: Cookies, waffles, chocolate, etc. 
• Savory grocery: Bread, rice, macaroni, etc.
• Fresh and chilled: Fruits, chicken, vegetables, etc.
• Frozen: Seafood, meat, ready made pizzas, etc.
• Dairy: Milk, butter, yogurt, etc. 
• Drinks: Soft drinks, juice, water, etc.
• Household: Detergents, kitchen towels, toilet paper, etc.
• Personal care: Sanitary napkins, shampoo, dental care, etc.
• Wine and spirits: Whiskey, Beer, Wine, etc.

Esselunga developed its private labels which are known as:

• Equilibrium(Natural ingredients): hair care, body care, face care, etc.
• Esselunga TOP(Premium): chocolate, fresh egg pasta, DOP oil, etc.
• Esselunga BIO: shrimps, pasta, meat, etc.

It works with different brands such as:

• Parmalat: whipped cream, milk, cheese, etc. 
• L’oréal: shampoo, conditioner, hair serums, etc.
• Negroni: salami slices, raw ham, meat, etc. 

Link to Esselunga’s e-shop: https://www.esselungaacasa.it/ecommerce/nav/welcome/index.html  

Coop Danmark is the leading grocery retailer in Denmark holding a 30% market share and operating about 1200 hypermarkets, supermarkets, discounters and convenience stores across Denmark. The Danish group is owned by FDB (Faellesforeningen for Danmarks Brugsforeninger), one of the country's largest membership organizations and the largest grocery store operator in Denmark; FDB is fully possessed by its 1.7 million members. Alongside with Coop Sverige, Coop Norge and the Finnish Inex/Sok, Coop Danmark is a former member of the late Coop Norden retail chain which has now disappeared and is nowadays a member of Coop Trading, the biggest purchasing organization in Scandinavia.

GruppoPam, which opened its first supermarket in 1958 in Padua, Italy, has since then expanded into other formats, primarily concentrating in Central and Northern Italy.

Today, this private firm has a total of 847 outlets (146 of them franchised and 224 under master franchises).

GruppoPam is the holding company for five store banners, each run separately by different companies.

The group encompasses Pam and Superal supermarkets and Panorama hypermarkets (€ 1.8 billion), Meta and Super Mercati franchised neighborhood stores (€ 176.2 million),In’s Mercato hard discount stores (€ 628.8 million) and different restaurant concepts: Brek (quick service), cafes, ice cream parlors, bakery, etc.

Gruppo Pam’s subsidiary, Nuance Group-AG (with PAI Partners, a private equity firm) operates 350 airport retail outlets in 19 countries as well.

Additionally, the company is a co-investor in multiplex cinemas.

Established in 1938, ICA group focuses on grocery retail. In 2013, Hakon and ICA merged its activities together and Hakon Invest was renamed as ICA Gruppen.

The company operates 1,951 stores including pharmacies.

It has a dedicated team of 24,000 employees and in 2021, its turnover amounted to €11.8 billion.

In the retail sector, ICA Gruppen operates its subsidiary ICA Sweden, a chain of grocery stores. 

The company runs its stores under the following banners:

• Maxi ICA Stormarknad: a chain of 88 stores
• ICA Kvantum: a chain of 130 supermarkets
• ICA Supermarkets: a chain of 422 supermarkets
• ICA Nara: a chain of 626 convenience stores

It offers a variety of products under different categories such as: 

• Sweet grocery: chocolate, waffles, cookies, etc.  
• Savory grocery: rice, pasta, bread, etc.
• Fresh and chilled: meat, fish, soups, etc.
• Frozen: seafood, pizza, meat, etc.
• Dairy: yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.
• Drinks: fizzy drinks, water, juice, etc. 
• Household: kitchen napkins, toilet papers, detergents, etc.
• Personal care: shampoo, conditioner, face masks, etc.     
• Wine and spirits: beer, wine, gin, etc. 

The group offers products from brands like Ajax, Edet, Imsdal, Pepsi, etc.

ICA Gruppen runs Rimi Baltic which consists of a total of 292 stores in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

It also took over Apotek Hjartat, a chain of 391 pharmacies which consist more than 4,000 employees in Sweden. 

Founded in 1970, Iceland Foods is headquartered in Deeside, Wales, United Kingdom. The founder started by selling frozen products solely but it was further developed with both food and non-food products.

Nowadays, Iceland Foods operates a total of 977 stores in the UK.

The enterprise owns Iceland International which is present in 65 countries, found mostly in Europe, The Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America. Furthermore, Iceland Foods also operates an online shopping platform. 

In 2018, the company partnered with The Range, where Iceland Food’s products are displayed in 47 outlets. Furthermore, 10 of these stores are equipped with Iceland café serving the supermarket’s products.

Iceland Foods reached a turnover of €4.8 billion in 2021 and employed 30 256 people. The firm controls 2.5% of the UK’s grocery market share, up by 2.1% compared to the year before.

Iceland Foods received various accreditations from Good Housekeeping Taste Approved and Grocer Great Food. The firm won the Best Retailer Initiative award by Grocer Great Food in 2019.

Iceland Foods offers products in the following categories:

• Dairy: milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, eggs, etc
• Sweet Grocery: chocolates, sweets, jams,etc
• Savory Grocery: rice, pasta, noodles, crackers, canned foods, etc
• Frozen Foods: ready meals, seafood, meat, poultry, desserts, etc
• Drinks: flavoured water, still water, wine, fruit juices, fizzy drinks, etc
• Chilled & Fresh Foods: seafood, poultry, meat, ready meals, etc
• Personal care: fragrances, oral care, hair care, body care, etc
• Household: air fresheners, dishwasher tablets, washing liquids, etc

Brands such as Surf, Finish, Weetabix, Nestle, Quality Street and many others are available in all Iceland Foods stores. 

Iceland supermarkets were the first to eliminate artificial colourings, flavourings, non-essential preservatives and monosodium glutamate from its own brand products, Iceland Foods 

Also, it is the first supermarket that guarantees that its own label range is free of GM ingredients. Iceland Foods accounts for 30% of frozen ready meal sales in the United King`dom.

The firm expanded its business by entering food production thus, acquiring its supplier, Loxton Foods, which was later renamed to Iceland Manufacturing Ltd. By entering into partnership with the South African investment holding company, Brait, the firm increased its shareholding in the business to 57%.

In 2016, the retailer partnered with Slimming world, Millie’s cookies and Greggs to launch an exclusive new range of  frozen pizzas, prepared meals and desserts.

As of 2018, the company became the first major retailer in the world to remove plastic packaging from its own brand products. Also, it has committed to stop using palm oil as an ingredient in all its own label food products.

In January 2019, the supermarket chain launched a range of vegan pizzas hence expanding its plant based assortment.

In 2020, Iceland Foods reported a 29% reduction in its own label plastic packaging usage since January 2018 and 74% reduction in its carbon emissions since 2011 and aiming for zero carbon by 2042.

Pertaining to the supply chain, the firm owns about 121 warehouses.

Iceland Foods’ online shop can be accessed on www.iceland.co.uk

IKEA Food Services is part of IKEA, a Swedish furniture store chain with over 400 stores across the world. IKEA Food Services was launched in 1959 in Sweden when IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad decided to feature food service establishments in IKEA stores. 

At present, IKEA Food Services operates its restaurants in over 400 stores in 49 markets. 

IKEA Food Services operates under 3 banners:

• IKEA Restaurant

• IKEA Bistro 

• Swedish Food Market

IKEA Food Services attained a turnover of € 18.2 million in 2019. 

IKEA Food Services is interested in promoting healthy and sustainable eating. The company is engaged at all steps from the sourcing to the final product. 

IKEA Food Services has launched the Food is Precious programme that aims to reduce food waste in all its establishments by 50% by August 2020. 

IKEA Food Services also runs IKEA Bootcamp Project where it collaborated with startups for 3 months to find ways to improve food production.

J Sainsbury also known as Sainsbury’s is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom having 16,9% market share. Since its humble beginning in 1869 as a shop, the company has come a long way and has now 6 segments:

• Sainsbury’s groceries
• Sainsbury’s Bank
• Sainsbury’s Argos
• Energy
• Habitat
• Tu    

The company along with Lloyds banking group partnered with regards to property management as well as online services.

The retail section comprises of 2 formats:

• Supermarkets
• Convenience stores

Sainsbury’s has 13 distribution centres and 2 national ones segmented as follows:

• 3 distribution centres for slow moving items
• 2 for frozen goods
• 2 for general merchandise
• 1 for clothing

Jerónimo Martins SGPS, SA is a leading Portuguese corporate group specializing in food distribution and specialized retail sectors, with roots tracing back to 1792. Headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, the company has evolved over more than two centuries into an international group operating primarily in Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, and Colombia.

In its home market of Portugal, Jerónimo Martins operates iconic retail chains such as Pingo Doce — a well-established supermarket and hypermarket brand — along with Recheio, a prominent cash-and-carry chain catering to wholesale customers. The group also emphasizes specialized retail with brands including Jeronymo, a coffee shop chain, and Hussel, focusing on chocolates and confectionery products. To support distribution logistics and supply chain efficiency, the group maintains various distribution centers within Portugal.

The company is renowned for its continuous innovation and adaptation while maintaining its family-owned business heritage. Jerónimo Martins is listed on Euronext Lisbon (ticker: JMT) and is part of the PSI-20 index, reflecting its status as one of Portugal’s largest and most influential companies.

Financially, Jerónimo Martins reported a turnover in the range of 10 to 50 billion euros as of 2024, demonstrating robust market performance and steady growth propelled by its diverse retail formats and geographic reach. The group employs approximately 131,000 people globally, with a significant workforce within Portugal estimated between 1,000 and 4,999 employees. It operates more than 6,100 stores across several countries, with around 1,000 to 2,499 points of sale in Portugal itself.

Jerónimo Martins prioritizes sustainability, responsible sourcing, and social responsibility initiatives alongside its commercial activities. Its retail offerings emphasize food, drinks, and beauty sectors to meet the evolving demands of modern consumers, positioning the company as a key partner for manufacturers and suppliers seeking market access in Portugal and beyond.

John Lewis Partnership is a co-operative founded by John Spedan Lewis in 1929 in the UK. The company is known for operating the chains Waitrose and John Lewis with operations across the UK as well as abroad. John Lewis Partnership manages 2 international offices and exports products to around 58 countries. 

John Lewis Partnership operates the following banners:

• John Lewis & Partners: a chain of 50 department stores offering clothing, accessories, cosmetics, etc. 

• Waitrose & Partners: a chain of 338 general retail stores in the UK. The business also has operations in the Middle East. 

In addition to retail banners, John Lewis Partnership has diversified and manages 5 partnership hotels, 2 customer contact centres, 5 waitrose cookery schools, a heritage centre, a waitrose farm, a plant nursery, 1 content production hub and 1 soft furnishing factory. 

John Lewis Partnership employs 80800 people and reached a turnover of € 11.3 billion in 2019. 

John Lewis Partnership has a Responsible Sourcing Code of Conduct by which suppliers should adhere to. The code contains regulations concerning labour standards, ethical regulations, quality information, etc. 

John Lewis Partnership has 33 delivery hubs and distribution sites and intends to centralize all its supply chain operations for John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners. 

John Lewis Partnership is also working towards reducing the use of plastic. For instance, over 200 references from Waitrose & Partners no longer have packaging. Furthermore, the business is also investing renewable energy. One of the measures consists of replating its current refrigeration systems with eco-friendly equipments, hence reducing energy consumption by 25%. 

Founded in 1921 by Jan and Anita Meurs, Jumbo Group Holding is the 2nd largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands and has been part of the Van Eerd Group since 1983.

Jumbo Group Holding operates more than 712 stores. It owns an online shop as well.

In 2021, Jumbo Group Holding launched 3 new stores in Belgium. 

Furthermore in 2022, the group entered a partnership with an instant on-demand delivery company, Gorillas, where a large part of Jumbo’s portfolio will be distributed to Gorillas, including Jumbo's own brands, organic as well as exclusive items. 

Moreover, Jumbo Group Holding runs an academy where employees are offered the necessary training courses in order to run the stores effectively. The training offered allows employees to learn from professionals and these courses are MBO and HBO certified.

Employees can be trained in occupational health and safety, management and professional and product knowledge. Courses are delivered through their teaching locations and through the learning square, a digital platform.

The company also runs Jumbo Tech Campus where over 200 employees work to develop online concepts for Jumbo.

Jumbo Group Holding also owns a chain of more than 60 famous and fast growing restaurants under the brand name La Place.

In 2018, Jumbo Group Holding started a new concept store, Foodmarkt City which gathers under 1 roof its 3 existing concepts: Supermarkets, Foodmarkten (fresh market) and its famous restaurant chain “La Place ''.

The firm is currently working on launching another new concept for the remaining La Place branches. Under the new concept, La Place restaurants will be specialising in healthy meals which can be prepared rapidly. 

Additionally, Jumbo Group Holding is planning to launch 10 new stores that will consist of city shops in the Netherlands and supermarkets in Belgium.

Jumbo Group Holding’s turnover reached €9.73 billion in 2020 which increased by 15% compared to the previous year and its online sales also rose by 50%. 

The chain has a market share of over 21.5%. Regarding its restaurant chain, La Place, the company has partnered with Vermaat Group which will take over 44 of the restaurants in the Netherlands. 

There are around 33 000 people who are employed by the company.

Jumbo Group Holding’s private brands are:

• Jumbo: for the retail chain
• La Place: for the restaurants

Furthermore, Jumbo Group Holding is focusing on developing their own brands products called Jumbo, Jumbo Biologisch (organic products), Jumbo Veggie Chef (Veggie rang) and Jumbo Gourmetschotel (premium products).

As of March 2018, the firm partnered with Quintiq to optimize its supply chain and the retailer operates 10 distribution centers and 500 trucks. 

Jumbo Group Holding will be operating 10 delivery hubs as well as its 3rd E-fulfillment centre which will handle online orders. At present, Jumbo Group Holding runs 5 delivery hubs dedicated for grocery deliveries.

Its online shop can be accessed on www.jumbo.com

Founded by 4 wholesalers in 1940, Kesko is a Finnish retail company operating in the grocery trade, construction and building services trade and car trade. Its headquarters is based in Helsinki, Finland. 

As of 2020, the company operates approximately 1,800 stores in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland. Along with its comprehensive store network, the enterprise operates online stores as well. Furthermore, Kesko also runs a subsidiary business, Kespro which is a wholesaler supplying restaurants, hotels, cafes, etc. 

In the financial year 2020, the business achieved a turnover of approximately €14 billion and employed about 39,000 people. Further, Kesko holds a market share of 36.9% in the food sector. 

Moreover, the enterprise gained recognition through the Gold SAP Quality Awards in Nordics and Baltics countries for innovation category. 

A wide assortment of products are displayed in its grocery stores which are classified under the following categories: 

• Savoury grocery: canned goods, oils, rice, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: chocolates, biscuits, sugar, etc. 
• Chilled & fresh: ready meals, fruits, vegetables, etc. 
• Frozen: ice creams, meat, pizzas, etc. 
• Dairy: milk, cheese, yoghurt, etc. 
• Drinks: juices, water, soft drinks, etc. 
• Wine & spirits: beers and wines.
• Personal care: moisturisers, deodorants, shampoos, etc. 
• Household: detergents, toilet papers, air fresheners, etc. 

In addition, Kesko developed its own brands which are as follows:  

• Pirkka: a range of more than 2,500 products which covers almost all product categories. 
• K-menu: a range of quality everyday items offered at low prices. It contains products such as meat, pasta, juices, etc. 

The company works with local food suppliers and small producers as well. However, the business has a code of conduct that suppliers should adhere to.

Additionally, the firm maintains high quality standards as it possesses certifications such as FSC, PEFC ST 2002:2013, PEFC 2001:2008, MSC, etc. 

In relation to its logistics solutions, the company operates 2 warehouses of 140,000m2 and a fleet of temperature-controlled delivery vehicles. Moreover, the business conducts about 3,500 daily customer visits with its 300 contract trucks. 

With regards to sustainability, the retailer collaborates with international sustainability organisations and encourages its suppliers to cut their emissions. 

The firm’s online store can be accessed on: https://www.k-ruoka.fi/

In 1960, 10 confectionery wholesalers in Germany merged and formed Lekkerland. During the company’s early days, the main clients were petrol stations. Nowadays, Lekkerland distributes not only to petrol stations but kiosks, convenience stores, restaurants, food retailers, etc. 

Lekkerland also advises its clients on which products to order and also offer sales promotion solutions. 

Lekkerland owns 5 subsidiaries:

• Convivo: a private label developing company

• Lekkerland Information Systems: a firm offering a range of IT solutions

• Amv: a distributor of non-food items

• Trimex: an importer of Scandinavian food items

• Cofact: an invoice and billing company

The company also runs the banner Frischwerk, a chain of modern shops for petrol stations that include a food service area and a bakery. 

Lekkerland achieved a turnover of € 6.9 billion in 2018 and employed 2710 people. 

Around 48% of its sales are in tobacco goods, while 49% of the sales are in foods and nonfood items.

Lekkerland operates several brands that include:

• E-va: a range of prepaid products such as sim cards, top-up credits, vouchers, etc.

• E-va gives: a range of vouchers which are personalised with packaging

• Take Off: a brand of energy drinks

Lekkerland operates over 15 logistic centres in Europe which can handle fresh, frozen and dry food items.

Makro is a cash-and-carry wholesaler serving independent, small and medium-size retailers and the institutional market (hotels, restaurants and caterers). The Makro chain encompasses 196 high-volume, low-cost/low-price, no frills cash & carry wholesale stores in six countries: Brazil (76 stores), Argentina (25), Thailand (48), Venezuela (34), Colombia (15), and Peru (4). The business is owned by SHV Holdings N.V. (Steenkolen Handels-Vereeniging), a € 16billion (+34.5%) privately held, diversified company, which also trades in liquid petroleum gas, recycled scrap, oil/ gas exploration, energy/transportation solutions, and the private equity business. SHV was started in 1896 with the merger of some large Dutch coal traders; when coal declined as an energy source, SHV diversified, opening its first Makro self-service wholesale store in 1968 in Amsterdam. That business grew internationally until, in 1997, SHV sold most of its Makro European stores (233 cash & carry outlets) to Metro Holdings AG of Germany (also in this database). In January 2004, Makro sold Massmart, a leading food and nonfood distributor in South Africa, since that operation was moving away from the cash-and-carry wholesale business. (Early in 2012, Walmart acquired a majority interest in this operation.) Makro today is divided into two groups: Makro South America (148 stores) and Thailand (48 stores). Its stores range between 4,000 to 12,000 square meters. Makro Thailand also operates Siam Food Service.

Founded in 1884, Marks and Spencer is a retailer which was established by Thomas Spencer and Michael Marks. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The retailer launched its business as a penny bazaar first and marked it with the slogan “Don’t ask the price, it's a penny.”

Presently, Marks and Spencer operates 1,509 stores worldwide. Moreover, the company attracts about 30 million customers in its shops. M&S manages an online shop as well. 

In the financial year 2021, the firm achieved a turnover of €11 billion. Furthermore, with the help of its 78,000 employees, the retailer is able to handle its day to day operations efficiently. 

Additionally, the enterprise gained recognition from “compassion in world farming” through the “Special Recognition Award” in 2021. It is noteworthy that the retailer received 11 awards in this segment as it maintains the highest standards of animal welfare. 

Moreover, Marks and Spencer operates mainly in 2 segments: Food (67%) and Clothing & home (50.5%).

Marks and Spencer offers several products in the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: chocolates, cakes, biscuits, etc.
• Savoury Grocery: olive oil
• Wine & Spirits: wines, prosecco, champagne, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh: burgers, chicken, spicy rice, etc.
• Personal care: hand cream, shower gel, shampoo, etc.

In addition, the business works with brands such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Malbec, etc. The company imports its goods from Australia, France, Spain and many more.

Marks and Spencer owns a private label named M&S which provides various items, hampers and food gifts such as chocolate, coffee, buns, desserts and many more.

Moreover, the company possesses certifications such as HACCP, Fairtrade, MSC and many more. 

In 2020, the firm partnered with Ocado in order to allow its consumers to have their M&S products delivered to them in a timely manner. 

Besides, on 28th January 2022, the enterprise launched a live online shopping service. 

With regards to its logistics features, the retailer operates its own distribution centre and fleet of vehicles, hence, managing the flow of goods globally in an efficient manner.  

Concerning sustainability, the firm has ensured that the electricity from M&S energy is 100% renewable and its coffee farmers are adapting to environmental challenges with Fairtrade.

In fact, the objective of the company is to cut its carbon emissions by 90% by the year 2025.

Currently, the retailer is looking for products for its private label in the following category:

• Frozen food: desserts, ice cream, fish & seafood, pizza, starter, fruits & vegetables, cooking aid, meat, potatoes, ready meals, bakery, snacking, drinks.

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.marksandspencer.com/

Mercadona is the leading Spanish supermarket chain which was founded in 1977 by the Carnicas Roig group. The group took its origins from a small butcher shop and has evolved to 1645 supermarkets operating in Spain and 29 in Portugal. Mercadona also runs an online shop as well as a mobile app.

The store size averages between 1300-1500 sqm and Mercadona emphasizes the "Always Low Prices" concept. Presently, the firm occupies 13.5% of Spain’s total food retail space.

A total of 5.5 million households were reported to purchase at Mercadona. 1.2 million orders were received on its online store.

Training is also provided to its employees. So far, 953 people have been promoted.

Mercadona employs 95 500 people, including 2300 for its stores in Portugal. In 2020, the business achieved a turnover of €26.7 billion. 

The retailer offers a wide assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: tea, infusions, biscuits, cereals, etc.
• Savory Grocery: chips, crisps, pasta, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meals, poultry, pork, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: charcuterie, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Dairy: yoghurt, cheese, eggs, milk, butter, etc.
• Drinks: wine, soft drinks, mineral water, etc.
• Personal Care: hair care, skincare, face care, etc.
• Household: laundry care, disinfectant detergent, etc.

Some of the brands available are Elena, Bonito Del Norte, Chatka, etc.

The fact that Mercadona keeps up with trends has been a contributing factor to the increasing productivity. Hence since 2013, the company has started to develop free-from products.

As gluten-free products were quite rare in Spain, the company went on to create a whole gluten-free line at competitive prices.

Mercadona also became the first retailer in Spain to sell BAP certified seafood products in its stores. 

Moreover, Mercadona’s fish is considered as the best on the market as the firm collaborated with CSIC to ameliorate the safety and quality of its fishery products.

In 2020, Mercadona introduced a cosmetics brand, Deliplus, which offers facial oil on the market. The company launched the Hacendado Tofu Cream, of which more than 1600 tubs are sold daily.

An innovation centre was established in the same year in Lisbon in order to get acquainted with the preferences of the local consumer and develop new products.

Furthermore, it launched a disinfectant spray with 70% alcohol.

Mercadona works with 1400 totaler suppliers, 2387 commercial service suppliers as well as 13 000 SMEs and raw material suppliers. 

Pertaining to logistics, Mercadona owns an automated distribution center in Madrid where the orders are tracked and 12 other distribution centers as well.

Also, the company invested €35 million to expand its logistics block and a new warehouse of 36 700 sqm was built in 2021.

Mercadona has been extending its online delivery service and has also been continuously injecting funds to renovate many of its stores.  It also owns chargeable delivery vehicles.

As of August 2018, Mercadona decided to stop using plastic bags and use paper bags. Through this action, the firm fulfills its commitment of moving towards a sustainable business. 

209 000 tons of CO2 emissions were saved and €47 million were invested in environmental protection. Moreover, 20 000 Kg of products were donated to the Food Bank of Valladolid and 32 other foundations.

The retailer also bought land which has an area of 25 668 m2, of which 14 650 m2 will be used to open a new online warehouse which is currently in construction.

In 2022, Mercadona raised its employees wage by 6.5%.

Mercadona's online shop can be found on www.mercadona.es

Established in 1925, Migros is a retail chain headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It is one of the largest retailers across the country. 

The company ended 2021 with a total of 658 supermarkets.

In 2021, its turnover amounted to €32.10 billion. It has a team of 97,727 employees.

Moreover, the company’s online sales have grown by 67% in the last five years and in 2022, it generated sales of €3.9 billion.

 It offers a variety of products in different categories: 

• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, cereals, chewing gums, etc.   
• Savory Grocery: olive oil, soup, pasta, etc.
• Chilled and fresh: meat, sausage, salad, etc.
• Frozen: vegetables, pizza, ready-made meals, etc.
• Drinks: water, fizzy drinks, juice, etc.
• Dairy: cheese, butter, milk, etc. 
• Personal care: shampoo, shower gel, deodorants, etc.
• Household: kitchen towels, cleaning products, gardening products, etc.

Migros has also developed its own brands:

• Migros Bio: a range of organic products such as yogurt, milk, butter, etc.
• M-Budget: a brand of food and non-food items at affordable prices such as bacon rolls, toilet paper, cream cheese, etc.
• Migros Selection: a brand of premium food items such as macarons, meat, granola, etc. 

Concerning its logistics, more than 400 rail wagons transport goods for Migros every day. It also focuses on climate-friendly lorries and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Migros Ticaret A.Ş. is the leading food retailer in Turkey, operating a wide network of stores that cater to both food and non-food consumer needs. Established in 1954 as a joint venture with Swiss Migros, it has developed into one of Turkey's "Big 5" supermarket groups with a pioneering role in shaping the modern retail sector. 

As of 2025, Migros operates a total of 3,662 stores in Turkey under multiple formats, including Migros supermarkets, Macrocenter premium stores, Migros Jet convenience stores, Mion, Minigros, Macrokiosk, and wholesale outlets. Its store presence spans 81 cities with diverse formats such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, distribution centers, warehouses, and cash and carry outlets.

The company is headquartered in Istanbul and has a significant footprint with over 20,000 selling points nationwide. Migros employs between 10,000 and 50,000 people in Turkey, reflecting its extensive operations and investment in growth. In 2023 alone, Migros opened 517 new stores including Migros, Migros Jet, Macrocenter, and wholesale locations.

Musgrave Group is Ireland's largest grocery distributor and a leading food retail, wholesale, and foodservice company. Founded in 1876 in Cork by the Musgrave brothers, it remains largely family-owned and operates primarily in Ireland with additional activities in Spain. The group supports a large network of retail and foodservice family businesses through approximately 15 market-leading food and beverage brands. 

Key retail brands operated by Musgrave Group include SuperValu, a large-format supermarket chain with more than 170 locations across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland; Centra, a convenience store franchise with over 300 locations; and Donnybrook Fair, a premium grocery chain acquired in 2018. In addition, Musgrave Wholesale Partners operates cash and carry outlets under the Musgrave MarketPlace brand, with branches located in Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, Ballymun, Dun Laoghaire, Clondalkin in the Republic of Ireland, and in Belfast, Derry and Lurgan in Northern Ireland. Their distribution centers are strategically placed in Ballycurreen (County Cork), Kilcock (County Kildare), and Belfast to serve both Ireland and Northern Ireland efficiently. 

The group also operates in Spain through Musgrave Retail Partners España, managing Dialsur and other Cash & Carry operations. Musgrave’s franchisees hold a significant share of the grocery market, approximately 24% in the Republic of Ireland and 12% in Northern Ireland. 

Musgrave Group employs between 10,000 and 50,000 staff members in Ireland and operates over a thousand selling points comprising supermarkets, convenience stores, cash and carry outlets, and distribution centers. The company’s annual sales are estimated at more than €4 billion as of recent years, reflecting its market leadership and extensive presence.

Musgrave's operations span from retail supermarkets and convenience shops through wholesale distribution and foodservice, emphasizing strong partnerships with suppliers and customers to provide a wide range of food, drinks, and beauty products. Their strong logistical network and diverse brand portfolio make Musgrave a key player in Ireland’s grocery and FMCG sector.

Picard Surgeles, which was established in 1906, opened its first store in 1974. The business, founded by Raymond Picard in France, specialises in the production and distribution of frozen products. Picard Surgeles is owned by Lion Capital. 

The firm is a leading specialized retailer in the French frozen food market with a total of 1010 stores across France. Picard Surgeles runs 14 shops in Belgium, 1 shop in Luxembourg and 2 shops in Switzerland. In addition to this, customers can also shop online through its mobile app as well as its website. 

Picard Surgeles currently offers 1100 references and introduces around 200 new items each year.

In 2021, Picard Surgeles achieved a turnover of €1.9 billion and employed a total of 5055 people.

Picard Surgeles offers products in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: desserts, ready-meals, pastries, meat, seafood, etc.
• Savory Grocery: sauces, chips, snacks, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: tea, coffee, biscuits, jam, candy, etc. 

Furthermore, Picard Surgeles also has a range of organic products. 

Brands such as Mc Cain, The English Tea Shop, Musseti, etc. can be found in all the stores. 

The company offers products under its own label, Picard, which offers frozen desserts, fruit salads, appetizers, etc. 

Picard Surgeles works with farmers directly, ensuring that the products are of great quality and fresh. Unlike other companies that offer frozen items, Picard Surgeles does not use any additives or preservatives in its frozen range. 

Picard Surgeles’s online shop can be accessed on www.picard.fr

The REWE group was created in 1927 and today has become the leader in the trade and tourism group, not only in Germany but also in Europe. Its activities are expanded in 21 countries across Europe, operating 15 300 stores. REWE group is among the TOP 4 German retailers, in fact, it holds 17% of the market share in Germany.

The Group’s business areas are as follows:

• Retail Germany
• Retail International
• National Specialist Stores
• Travel and Tourism

The group has 9129 stores in the following formats:

• Supermarkets 
• Hypermarkets
• Discounters

These formats are available in 12 countries and are part of the group CORE which is a buying alliance. CORE group has its online shop and other non-retail businesses. 

Rewe also has a subsidiary named REWE Digital which has managed all the online activities of the firm since 2013.

In 2014, the group partnered with Aral, a gas station operator to launch its convenience store: REWE to go.

Having the most technologically sophisticated online shopping facility in Europe, Rewe gets the opportunity to beat Amazon and other online retailers. Its Cologne facility comprises 20 000 SKUs in six different cooling zones.

In the year 2017, the company launched a 360 degree marketing campaign in order to promote its economy private label line.

The group is also active in food and non-food sectors, and reveals its presence through banners such as the REWE center which was initially known as Toom BauMarkt and B1 as well as other tourism agencies. Presently, to arm itself against the competition and to establish itself as a leader in its sector, REWE targets Europe (principally Austria) through banners like Bipa and Billa.

In the financial year 2020, the company had a revenue of €75 billion and employed 380 000 employees.

The firm offers a diversified assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery
• Savory Grocery
• Frozen Food
• Chilled & Fresh Food
• Dairy
• Drinks
• Personal care
• Household

Rewe is trying to improve its image by upgrading the quality of its own brand products. In fact, the group offers a wide range of private label products positioned from low-priced to premium categories and addressing many specific segments such as regional specialties or organic food. Rewe is estimated to realize an average of up to a quarter of its total sales thanks to its own brands:

At Rewe stores:

• Rewe Best Wahl, former Rewe brand for packaged food ranging from low to mid-price range.
• Rewe Bio for organic products.
• Rewe Feine Welt for premium packaged food at medium prices.
• Rewe Frei Von for food with special needs (gluten-free, lactose-free…).
• Vivess for household products, textiles, school furniture…
• Wilhelm von Brandenburg for meat products.
• Rewe Regional for regional specialties.
• Ja! for budget price range packaged food.

At Penny Markt stores:

• Bunte Basics for budget ranged groceries.
• Bäckerkrönung for bakeries.
• Penny To Go for snacks.
• Mühlenhof for fresh meat.
• San Fabio for Italian groceries.
• Today for personal care.
• Naturgut for organic products.

At Billa stores:

• Billa for core ranged products.

• Billa Corso for premium groceries.

• Billa Freshy for fresh snacks and ready meals.

• Ja! Natürlich for organic food.

• Clever for budget ranged groceries and HPC.

• Chef Menu for mid-priced ready meals.

• Wegenstein for wine.

• Hofstädter for fresh meat.

• Da Komm’ Ich Her for regional groceries and specialties.

• Wunderlinge, providing unconventional vegetables and fruits in order to fight against food waste.

• Vega Vita for vegan products.

At Bipa stores:

• Look by Bipa for core products.
• IQ Cosmetics for premium categories.
• B. Pretty for budget young customers.
• Little Girl for little girls.
• B. Styled for legwear.
• BabyWell for baby care.
• Bi Good for eco-friendly products. 

Pertaining to the logistics facilities, in cooperation with Witron logistics, Rewe built a warehouse which measures 683 508 sqm.

Rewe Group eliminated the use of plastic straws in some of its stores. The firm is committed to use FSC/ PEFC certified paper straws in its 6000 chains. Also, the company decided to transform its whole own brand chocolate assortment into the Fairtrade cocoa program.

Now the group is focusing on new technologies: how to relate new technologies with the trade sector. Expand its e-commerce activities and also establish new sale formats and channels to adapt itself to changing times.

Schwarz Group is a retail group that was founded in 1912 in Germany by Johannes and Georg Schwarz. The business operates both retail and wholesale businesses. Schwarz Group operates over 12500 stores in around 33 countries.

Schwarz Group operates the following retail banners:

• Kaufland: a chain of hypermarkets
• Lidl: a chain of supermarkets

Schwarz Group runs its wholesale business under the name Ruep. 

In 2020, Schwarz Group reached a turnover of € 113.3 billion and there were 458000 people employed by the business. 

Schwarz Group, under its various banners, offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: canned food, pet food, oil, spices, pasta, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: industrial pastries, breakfast cereals, coffee, tea, etc.
• Drinks: soft drinks, flavored water, juice, iced tea, etc.
• Dairy: cheese,  yoghurt, butter, cream, buttermilk, kefir, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: charcuterie, meat, seafood, ready-meals, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice-cream, vegetables, seafood, meat, ready-meals, etc. 
• Personal Care: hair care, oral care, face care, baby care, etc.
• Household: laundry care, disinfectant, air freshener, cleaner, etc.

Various brands including K-classic, Airwick, Alpro, Vittel, Beeck, etc. are offered.

Regarding its banners, Schwarz Group is encouraging both Kaufland and Lidl to develop nutritive products and reduce sugar and salt in them.

As a company working towards achieving sustainable goals, Schwarz Group is targeting to use solely recyclable packaging for all the products under the private labels for Lidl and Kaufland. 

Moreover, Schwarz Group intends to reduce its food waste by 50% by 2030. 

UPDATES ON SCHWARZ GROUP ON 10/06/2021

In 2021, Schwarz Group announced that it was developing till-less stores in Germany.  The project is being tested under the store name shop.box and is being run by Schwarz Restaurantbetriebe, another subsidiary of the group. 

Furthermore, a pick-up application, collect.box is in the works. Through this service, customers can make a shopping list and then pick up their orders at a terminal.

Sonae MC is the leading food retail group in Portugal and a major player in the Iberian health and wellness market. With a strong presence in the country, Sonae MC operates a wide network of stores under several well-known banners, including Continente (hypermarkets), Continente Modelo and Continente Bom Dia (convenience supermarkets), Meu Super (franchised supermarkets), Wells (health and wellness), Go Natural (specialized in healthy food), and Dr. Wells (dental and aesthetic medicine clinics).

The group’s retail portfolio is complemented by a robust online operation, offering customers a seamless shopping experience through its e-commerce platform, Continente Online. Sonae MC is recognized for its commitment to innovation, quality, and competitive pricing, serving millions of customers across Portugal.

In addition to food retail, Sonae MC holds a leading position in the health and wellness sector, with brands such as Wells and Arenal (in Spain), and is expanding its footprint in specialized retail with banners like Note! and Bagga. The group’s diverse retail formats cater to a broad range of consumer needs, from daily groceries to health products and personal care.

Sonae MC is part of the larger Sonae Group, a multinational corporation with interests in retail, real estate, telecommunications, and financial services. The group is listed on the Euronext PSI-20 in Lisbon and is the largest private employer in Portugal, with over 48,000 employees across all its businesses. 

For suppliers and manufacturers, Sonae MC represents a strategic partner with a vast distribution network, a strong brand reputation, and a commitment to sustainable growth. The group’s financial stability and market leadership make it an attractive partner for companies looking to expand their presence in the Portuguese and Iberian markets.

Financial highlights: Sonae MC reported a turnover of approximately 761.9 million euros in 2024, with a network of over 1,500 stores and more than 38,000 associates.

Key retail formats:

• Supermarket
• Convenience
• Hypermarket

Founded in 1894, Systeme U Centrale Nationale owns and operates a chain of supermarkets and hypermarkets in France. The firm occupies a market share of 11.1% in the French market.

Systeme U signed an agreement with Carrefour in June 2018 for a joint purchasing alliance. 

Furthermore, Systeme U Centrale Nationale has invested in the creation of a new online platform along with a mobile phone application. 

The retail group operates 1568 stores under the following banners:

• 65 Hyper U: a chain of hypermarkets
• 762 Super U: a chain of supermarkets
• 341 U Express: a network of mini-markets in the countryside
• 5 Marche U
• 395 Utile

Systeme U Centrale Nationale achieved a turnover of €26.8 billion in 2020, indicating that its turnover has grown by 8.2% since 2019. The turnover for its online activities has grown by 50%, at €927 million. 

At present, over 70 000 people are employed by the business.

So far, Système U operates a wide range of private labels such as (but not limited to)

• U: the core brand for food and nonfood products
• U Saveurs: for premium gourmet food products
• U Bio: for organic and fair trade food products
• U Nature: for organic household products such as wipes, dishwashers etc
• By U: for personal care references
• U Tout Petits: for children food and nonfood products

The firm has been able to attain the RSPO certification.

Moreover, Système U partnered with Nedis in order to benefit from private label solutions.

In 2017, Systeme U Centrale Nationale  began a partnership with the US based Schreiber Dairy Group for the latter to become the exclusive supplier of U brand yoghurt. 

In 2021, Systeme U Centrale Nationale, along with other retail chains, signed a commitment charter to offer more locally-produced items.  

The company has been supporting SMEs in France. In fact, studies have shown that 72% of the company’s turnover from its own brands come from products supplied by SMEs. Many of its stores work with local and regional farmers.

In terms of logistics, Systeme U Centrale Nationale operates 30 sites across France. The services are provided to external customers also and not only to the U associates.

As a sustainable measure, Systeme U Centrale Nationale has decided to stop the use of petrochemicals in its packaging for its private labels. The company has joined the initiative by (Re) set and will be looking into eco-friendly packaging for products such as milk, salads, pastries, compotes, sweet and savory biscuits, etc. 

Moreover, Systeme U Centrale Nationale is now looking for ways to reduce its packaging. In 2020, the company stopped using plastic for certain products.  

Systeme U Centrale Nationale has banned around 113 additives and chemicals from its products, replacing them with safe alternatives. For instance, the company has launched its own chocolate spread where it switched from using palm oil to rapeseed oil.

Morrisons is a supermarket chain which was established in 1899 by William Morrison. Its headquarters is found in Bradford, UK. The business started as a stall in Rawson Market that sold eggs and butter. Today, the company is the UK’s 4th largest supermarket chain. 

As of 2021, Morrisons manages 497 stores in the UK serving 11 million customers each week. Moreover, in 2012, the firm launched its first retail website called “Morrisons Cellar” selling wine around the world. It started offering online shopping when it closed a deal with Ocado to use its technology system and distribution infrastructure. 

Morrisons operates its own manufacturing sites that include meat processing factory, seafood sites, vegetable packing factory, fresh food factory as well as potato packing facility. 

Furthermore, the supermarket chain holds a 10.4% market share as of 2019. 

In the financial year 2021, the business achieved a turnover of € 21.1 billion and employed 110,000 people.

Since the company’s sales rose by 9% in 2021, it was awarded “supermarket of the year” at Retail Industry Awards 2021. 

Morrisons provides a diversified assortment of products under the following categories:

• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, pizza, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Dairy: milk, yoghurt, cheese, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, breakfast cereals, biscuits, etc. 
• Savoury Grocery: pasta, sauces, crisps, noodles, etc.
• Frozen Food: fish, seafood, ready-meals, ice-cream, chicken, etc.
• Drinks: soft drinks, water, fruit juices, etc.
• Personal Care: oral care, skincare, fragrances, hair care, etc.
• Household: air fresheners, detergents, stain removers, etc.

The retailer also offers a free from product line with over 400 references. The products include lactose-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, etc. 

The brands available include Ariel, Uncle Bens, Walkers, Heinz, Kellogg’s, Cadbury, Mc Cain, etc. 

In addition, the retailer provides its own brand with over 1,000 references. It is called “Morrisons” which consists of products such as biscuits, canned foods, industrial pastries, sauces, etc.

Moreover, the grocer possesses certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, RTRS, RSPO, etc. 

Located across the UK, Morrisons operates 6 distribution centres close to its stores. Using its fleet of over 650 tractor units and 1,750 trailers, the company is able to deliver more than 18 million cases a week. 

In relation to sustainability, the firm decided to make 65% of its own brand ‘healthy’ and all the eggs used in processed foods will be from free-range by 2025. 

Morrisons’s online shop can be accessed on www.groceries.morrisons.com

Gall & Gall is the leading wine and liquor retailer in the Netherlands. The chain distinguishes itself with a wide range of quality products, a high quality of service and expert advice. The company was founded in 1884 by a widow under the name of her husband - H.J.T. Gall who had died young - prompting her to start a business that would provide a steady income as she grew older. The Widow Gall proved to be a successful entrepreneur and spent many years successfully building the business with a sharp focus on what her customers wanted. By the time she died in 1920, the business had two successful stores.

The couples son took over the business and changed the name to Gall & Gall. He continued to develop the business, which in 1989 became a part of Ahold. Soon after, it was merged with other liquor store chains acquired by Ahold to become the largest business of its kind in the Netherlands. In 2007, Gall & Gall updated its brand image and began pilots for a new type of store with a fresh modern design and a new layout. The company keeps growing its sales by broadening its appeal to an increasingly wider customer base, and providing more value to customers. It was the first liquor store chain in the Netherlands to launch an own-brand line containing a full range of more than 40 products, from wine and port to whiskey and gin, at competitive prices. In recent years it has been voted one of the most customer-friendly companies in the Netherlands.

Bol.com was founded in 1999 in the Netherlands as an online book seller but diversified its activities and offers products in the drinks category and the personal care category. Bol.com has over 9 million customers in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The company employs 1400 employees and achieved a turnover of €1220 million in 2015. The company ranked first on the Annual Twinkle 100 companies for 3 consecutive years since 2016.

In 2014, Bol.com was nominated “Best Web Shop of the Netherlands” and “Best Web Shop of Belgium 2014-2015.”. To give customers another convenient way to collect their orders, Bol.com has opened over 700 pick-up points in Albert Heijn stores.

The company is looking for products in the drinks category which include beer, wine and liquor.

For its beauty category, the company is looking for products such as perfumes, make-up and skincare.

In order to serve customers quickly and efficiently, bol.com has created a highly developed inventory-management system. The company stocks tens of thousands of products, buying more into its central warehouse as and when necessary. Bol.com has also made agreements with other suppliers promising fast and free delivery, and hosts an online “marketplace” for the exchange of second-hand goods.

The company’s online shop is accessible on https://www.bol.com/

Stop & Shop is a leading supermarket brand in the northeast United States and the pioneer of the super store concept in New England. Today Stop & Shop is organized into two divisions: Stop & Shop New England and Stop & Shop New York Metro.

Stop & Shop traces its roots back to 1914 when the Rabinovitz family founded the Economy Grocery Stores Company in the Boston suburb of Somerville, Massachusetts. Four years later, family member Sidney Rabb introduced an idea that was then new to retail – the self-service, modern supermarket. As that idea caught on, the company rapidly expanded, furthering its development from a single corner grocer to two divisions with around 400 stores today. The company officially became known as Stop & Shop, Inc. in 1946.

In 1982, Stop & Shop pioneered the superstore concept in New England. Today the two divisions operate superstores (some of which include gas stations), full-service pharmacies, and conventional supermarkets. The divisions have taken format development further in recent years, with stores that not only better serve customers but also use less energy.

Along with the other divisions in Ahold USA, the Stop & Shop divisions continue to focus on strengthening their own-brand offerings. They are using smartphone and internet technology to make shopping more convenient for customers. For example, ScanIt! Mobile lets customers use smartphones to scan their groceries, tally their orders, receive personalized savings and checkout – while they shop. The divisions are also introducing pick-up points that enable customers to order groceries online and pick them up at the store without leaving their cars.

Stop & Shop is strongly committed to supporting local charities and fundraising initiatives.

At the end of 2014, the Stop & Shop New England division operated 216 stores and the Stop & Shop New York Metro division operated 182 stores.

Peapod is the leading online grocery service in the United States. Peapod is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ahold, and works in partnership with the Ahold USA divisions to provide internet-based home shopping and grocery delivery and pickup.

Brothers Andrew and Thomas Parkinson founded Peapod in 1989 in Evanston, Illinois. The brothers' goal was to offer a convenient way for consumers to accomplish their grocery shopping. During the early days, Andrew and Thomas would do the picking and packing themselves, and make deliveries using their own cars. As demand for the service grew, Peapod continued to expand into new markets and began taking orders over its own website (www.peapod.com) in 1998. Since joining Ahold in 2000, Peapod has pursued a successful "clicks and bricks" strategy by partnering with Ahold’s supermarket businesses in the United States to provide an integrated service for customers. The company achieved a significant milestone in 2011 when it delivered its 20 millionth order.

Peapod continues to grow sales and expand its business, including by opening Peapod pick-up points as another convenient option for customers. In 2014, we opened a new distribution center in the New Jersey area to expand the capacity of our Peapod business in the metro New York market.

Peapod serves customers in 13 states including the District of Columbia.

Albert Czech Republic is a retailer which was established in the year 1990 and it is owned by Ahold Delhaize. Albert Czech Republic is based in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Albert Czech Republic operates its stores under the following banners:

• Albert Hypermarkets: 90 hypermarkets
• Albert Supermarkets: 235 supermarkets

In 2017, the firm obtained a turnover of  € 1.9 billion and employs over 17 000 employees.

The company obtained the Czech National Quality Award three times and one of its hypermarkets won the Best Store in the Czech Republic by the Diamond Quality League 2018. 

Its products categories include:

• Savory Grocery: Salty snacks, rice, flour, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: pastry, tea, chocolates, etc.
• Chilled & fresh food: ready meals, fresh meat, fruits & vegetables, etc.
• Frozen food: beef steaks, english bacon, sausages, etc. 
• Dairy: yoghurt, cheese, milk, etc. 
• Drinks: mineral water, juices, smoothies, etc. 
• Personal care: shower gel, shaving foams, liquid soaps, etc.

Besides it has its own brands namely:

• Albert:The products that are sold under the private label are pastry, fruits & vegetables, beverages, etc… It is interesting to know that the products are of high quality and are sold at low prices.
• Albert Excellent: Under this brand, products such as milk chocolates, fresh juices, sausages, etc,.. are sold.
• Basic: Pasta, milk, rice, etc,.. are available in this brand.

Moreover, the brands that are exclusively sold in Albert stores are:

• Ceska Chut:Its products includes meat, sausages, dairy, flour, etc…
• Etos: The specialty of this brand are body and facial care products.
• Cherokee: Clothing for men, women and babies are available in this brand.
• Nature’s promise: It’s aim is to offer recipes of its products to its customers.

Albert Czech Republic took over the Spar and Interspar stores in the country in 2014. 

Additionally, the firm has been certified by UTZ which gives an insight that it is advancing towards sustainability.

In fact, the objective of the retailer is to provide healthy and sustainable products to its customers. The goal is also to be eco-friendly.

UPDATES ON ALBERT CZECH REPUBLIC ON 29/05/2018

Although the company has a strong partnership with AMS, the company does its own sourcing. Albert Czech Republic cooperates directly with its suppliers and is always on the lookout for innovation.

UPDATES ON ALBERT CZECH REPUBLIC ON 08/01/2020

In 2018, Albert Czech Republic has injected funds to finance to renovate and upgrade 64 stores. 

Albert Heijn is the largest Dutch supermarket and convenience chain which was established in 1887 by Albert Heijn Sr. The company is a subsidiary of the Ahold Delhaize Group. In 2021, Albert Heijn had a market share of 35.9%, experiencing a growth of 0.9% when compared to the previous year.

Albert Heijn operates a total of 1050 stores as well as 64 pick-up points. 

In 2021, Ahold Delhaize announced the acquisition of 38 Deen stores which will be converted into Albert Heijn stores.

Furthermore, the company also owns the AH app, which is present in 50 cities, where the customers can buy their products online. 

Albert Heijn also launched ‘My Albert Heijn Premium’, which is an omnichannel subscription for a set amount per year that gives customers more discounts. More than 300 000 customers were reported to have subscribed.

Albert Heijn employs around 100 000 people and in 2021, the business’s turnover was €1.62 billion. Its online sales account for 10% of its revenue.

The company provides a wide assortment of products under the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: pasta, rice, oil, herbs, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: cereals, biscuits, chocolate, candy, etc.
• Drinks: beer, soft drinks, juice, etc.
• Wine & Spirits: a wide assortment of wines
• Frozen Food: dessert, snacks, ready-meals, meat, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruits, vegetables, ready-meals, cold cuts, etc.
• Dairy: butter, eggs, cheese, milk, etc.
• Personal Care: baby care, fragrances, makeup, hygiene, etc.
• Household: fabric softener, detergent, cleaning products, etc. 

Products from brands like Cruesli, Heineken, Coca Cola, Lays, Pampers, Page, etc. can be found in the stores. 

A range of organic, sugar-free, gluten-free, etc, items are also offered. 

Albert Heijn offers their own brands which are:

• AH Huismerk: Under this brand, a range of sustainable groceries and ecological products. This brand is dedicated to both the food and non-food sector.
• AH Excellent: This brand includes products such as rice, olive oil, coffee, etc,..
• AH Biological: This brand comprises more than 1500 skus which are organic. Products such as yoghurt, snacks, cheese, etc,.. are sold under this name.
• AH Basic: Quality products are sold at a lower price under this name.

Moreover, the firm is fairtrade, MSC & ASC and Better Life certified.

The procurement team of the company has a sourcing manager and a buyer who are responsible for each category.

In order to collaborate with Albert Heijn as a supplier, the following requirements are compulsory:

• Strong desire for competitiveness
• Should be independent enough when working with large retailers
• Quick delivery (Ensure delivery within two days)
• Huge capacity
• provide own logistics solutions

The firm works with more than 1000 permanent farmers and growers and takes special measures such as animal welfare, carbon emission reduction and the promotion of biodiversity.  Albert Heijn works with 80 local bakers, cheese makers and butchers from the Netherlands as well as the supplier, Streeckgenoten. 

Albert Heijn is interested in branded products in the personal care category such as vitamins and complements. The firm wishes to collaborate with suppliers from Eastern and Western Europe and will consider factors such as lead times and transportation costs. 

Furthermore, Albert Heijn is willing to work with suppliers from the UK but there should not be any delays due to Brexit. 

The company is also willing to partner with suppliers that have a wide range of products. 

Albert Heijn is also interested in products for private labels in the following categories:

• Frozen Food: fish and seafood
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat

In 2021, the company imposed a ban on Brazilian meat as it was causing deforestation.  

Albert Heijn has a fleet of 800 delivery vehicles devoted mainly to deliver orders placed by customers online. The company has 4 fulfilment centres and 20 cross-dock hubs. At present, Albert Hein can process over 100 000 orders each week. 

With regards to the community, the company collaborates with Red Cross, Food Banks, and Linda Foundation in order to provide food for the less fortunates. Furthermore, Albert Heijn minimises food wastage, uses better packages, avoids plastic, etc, in order to meet its sustainable goals pertaining to the environment. 

Albert Heijn’s online shop can be accessed on www.ah.nl

Founded in 1992, Pingo Doce is a supermarket chain owned 51% by Jeronimo Martins and 49% by Ahold Delhaize. Its headquarters is based in Lisbon, Portugal. Spread across 300 locations throughout the country, Pingo Doce is the leading chain in the supermarket segment in Portugal. 

The company operates 458 stores under the banner Pingo Doce across Portugal. It manages an online store as well. 

In the financial year 2020, the firm achieved a turnover of € 4.3 billion and employed more than 30,000 people. 

Furthermore, the retailer was awarded the 2021 Gold Vertex Award for its private label. The company also won a prize in the personal care category at the European Private Label Awards, organised by the European Supermarket Magazine in 2021. 

The retailer provides a wide assortment of goods under the following categories:

• Chilled & Fresh : ready meals, pastries, pastas, etc.
• Frozen: seafood, meat, ice creams, etc.
• Savoury grocery: oils, vinegar, spices, etc.
• Sweet grocery: chocolates, cookies, tea, etc. 
• Dairy products: yoghurts, cheese, eggs, milks etc. 
• Drinks: water, juice, soft drinks, etc. 
• Wine and Spirits: wines, beers, champagnes, etc. 
• Personal care: shampoo, moisturisers, makeup, etc.
• Household: air fresheners, disinfectants, toilet papers, etc. 

In addition, the firm offers solutions for consumers with specific food needs such as vegans, vegetarians, celiacs or people who are looking for fat-free, sugar-free, lactose-free and gluten-free products. 

The business offers various products under its own brand which are as follows (not limited to): 

• Go Active Pingo Doce: protein oats, protein bars, peanut butter, etc. 
• Pingo Doce: shampoo, frozen chocolates, burgers, etc. 
• Pingo Doce Pura Vida: milk, rice, dark chocolate, etc. 
• Go Bio: bio rice, bio dark chocolate, bio pasta, etc. 
• Pingo Doce Cuida Bebe: moisturising cream, biscuits, milk flour, etc. 

Moreover, the company maintains the highest quality standards as it possesses the international animal welfare certifications for its own brand meat products. Pingo Doce also achieved a certification in antibiotic production by Aenor. 

With regards to its logistics solutions, the firm operates its own distribution centres and fleet of vehicles. Moreover, it partnered with Takeaway.com to deliver home-cooked meals in Lisbon. In 2021, Pingo Doce invested in a fleet that emits less CO2. 

Concerning sustainability, the business is fighting plastic pollution and has proper waste management. 

The online shop can be accessed on: https://mercadao.pt/store/pingo-doce 

Aldi opened its first store in Australia in 2001 and now counts 457 discounters around the island. The discounter expanded quickly to become one of the largest food retailer in the island.

In fact, Aldi is now among the top ten retailers in Australia. Being among the top ten retailers has enabled Aldi to influences its prices as well as proposing innovations in terms of market initiatives. Aldi has managed to change the way private labelled products are perceived by customers. The discounter even manages its exclusive branded items.

Aldi in Australia also disposes of distribution centers that cater for the needs of the stores across the island. Being strict regarding the quality of its products Aldi conducts regular controls upon the products both internally and externally. 

Aldi started to operate in Austria in 1968 after taking over Hofer, an Austrian chain of retail stores. In Austria, Aldi Sud operates all its stores under the banner Hofer. At present, there are over 500 shops in Austria offering around 1400 references. There is also an online shop.

Aldi Sud Austria has diversified its business throughout the years. In 2003, it started operating a tour operator business under the name Hofer Reisen. In 2015, the firm launched Hofer Telekom. 

Aldi Sud Austria provides products in the following categories:

• Chilled & Fresh Food: charcuterie, cold cuts, meat, etc.
• Frozen Food: dessert, ice-cream, ready-meals, etc. 
• Drinks: soft drink, juice, wine, etc.
• Savory Grocery: crisps, oil, rice, etc.
• Dairy: yoghurt, milk, cheese, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: breakfast cereals, biscuits, coffee, etc.
• Personal Care: baby care, fragrances, skincare, etc.
• Household: detergent, dishwashing liquid, all-purpose cleaner, etc.

Aldi Sud Austria also offers vegan, vegetaria, organic and lactose-free items. 

Aldi Sud offers products from brands like Coca Cola, Red Bull, Fanta, Vegeta, etc.

Furthermore, the business also operates its own brands such as (but not limited to):

• Back to the origin: a range of organic products
• FairHOF: a brand of meat and dairy products following ethical standards. The meat sourced is from Austria itself
• Ombia: a range of personal care products free from parabens, silicone and microplastics
• Milfana: a brand featuring dairy products
• Amaroy: a range of coffee products

Hofer’s online shop can be accessed on www.hofer.at

Aldi Nord, a German chain of retail stores, launched in Belgium in 1976. The chain consists of 450 stores offering a variety of food and non-food items. The business had a market share of 9.49% in 2018. 

Aldi Nord Belgium employs 6587 people.

The company provides a large range of products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: canned food, pet food, pasta, sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: coffee, tea, cocoa, confectionery, etc.
• Drinks: beer, wine, soft drink, iced tea, etc. 
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, vegetables, fruits, pastries, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meal, dessert, seafood, etc.
• Personal Care: face care, hair care, oral care, etc.
• Household: cleaning supplies, disposables, laundry detergent, etc.

Aldi Nord Belgium also offers organic, vegan and vegetarian options. 

Aldi Nord Belgium offers products from brands like Lays, Heinz, King’s Crown, Kinder, Valgrande, etc. 

98% of cocoa offered by Aldi Nord Belgium comes from sustainable sources. Furthermore, Aldi Nord Belgium is the first Belgian retailer to only sell fairtrade bananas in its stores. 

Aldi Nord Belgium operates 7 distribution centres and has been taking measures so that by 2019, all the centres will be using LED lighting only. 

Aldi Nord, a chain of retail stores established in Germany, launched its first shop in France in 1988. The business Is recognised among the best ranked companies in France. 

The firm currently operates 888 stores. An online shop is also available on the website. 

Moreover, it employs more than 9,000 employees. 

Aldi Nord France offers around 1600 references, 103 of which are organic. 

Today, the business employs around 9000 people and in 2020, Aldi Nord France was reported to achieve a turnover of €317 million.

In 2018, the company was awarded the Fairtrade award, rewarding the joint efforts of Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. 

Aldi Nord France offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: canned food, pet food, pasta, sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: coffee, tea, cocoa, confectionery, etc.
• Drinks: soft drink, iced tea, juice, etc
• Wine & Spirits: beer, wine, spirits, etc
• Dairy: yoghurt, cheese, milk, etc 
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, vegetables, fruits, pastries, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meal, dessert, seafood, etc.
• Personal Care: face care, hair care, oral care, etc.
• Household: cleaning supplies, disposables, laundry detergent, etc.

Several brands offered by the chain are from Aldi Nord’s own labels, including (but not limited to):

• Simply Good and Bio: Offers a wide range of organic foods
• Pays Gourmand: Provides an assortment of sweet groceries
• Lait Français: Offers a collection of milk products
• Bon & Veg: Provides a range of vegetarian and vegan goods

75% of Aldi Nord France’s product range consists of local and regional French products. The company supports local producers and SMEs. Regional specialty products can also be found in the stores. 

Moreover, 87% of the products containing palm oil are sourced from sustainable producers and 98% of its fresh and frozen meat products are from France itself. 

Aldi Nord France provides products which are MSC, ASC, Global GAP and BIO certified. 

Additionally, the firm also offers a product range which specialises in organic foods, vegan foods, and many more. 

With regards to the environment, Aldi Nord France indulges in several measures such as offering products which come from sustainable and organic farming. The firm has also signed a national agreement with the Restos du Cœur, allowing them to have access to products which are close to their expiry dates. 

The online shop can be accessed at: www.aldi.fr

Aldi Sud Hungary is part of the Aldi Sud, a chain of retail stores originating from Germany. 

As of 2022, the business operates 153 stores across the country and an e-commerce platform as well. 

In the financial year 2021, Aldi Sud Hungary achieved a turnover of €1.04 billion and currently employs around 4,500 people. 

Aldi Sud Hungary offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: rice, noodles, sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: coffee, chocolate, cereals, etc.
• Drinks: ice tea and other drinks
• Chilled & Fresh Food: ready-meals, snacks, and other products
• Frozen Food: ready-meals, seafood, snacks, etc.
• Dairy: cheese and various dairy products
• Personal Care: face care, oral care, hygiene, etc.

Some of the brands offered by the business include Nescafe, A sia, Happy Harvest, etc.

Aldi Sud Hungary provides products from Aldi Sud’s own labels including (but not limited to)

• Almare: This brand offers a wide selection of high quality fish and seafood.
• BBQ: Delicious varieties of chicken steaks and marinated barbecue are found in the brand.  
• Gut Bio: In this brand, a large selection of high quality organic products like vegetables, sausage and cheese can be found.
• Cucina: Specialties such as aromatic balsamic vinegar and olive oil are found in this brand.
• Choceur: The products that are sold under this brand are chocolate milk bars, biscuits and desserts.
• Desira: Milk products can be found in this brand.
• Einfach Regional: Top quality milk is sold under this name.
• Expressi: The product that is sold in this brand is tea.

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.aldi.hu/hu/aldi-online.html 

Aldi, a chain of German retail stores, was introduced to the Irish market in 1999 and now have 140 stores across the country. Aldi Sud Ireland has a market of 12.6%. 

Aldi Sud Ireland offers an array of food and non-food items which includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and egg-free options. 

Aldi Sud Ireland works with over 200 Irish suppliers. All of the chain’s fresh products are sourced from Irish suppliers. Furthermore, several small producers supply the retail stores. 

Moreover 50% of the Aldi products are Irish.

The first local distribution centre to open in Ireland was in 2004. Every Aldi store depends on this distribution centre for their well functioning.

Aldi Sud Ireland is concerned about sourcing from sustainable producers. For example, all products containing palm oil must hold a RSPO certificate which guarantees that the products are sustainable. In the same way, all fish products must hold a Global GAP or BAP certificate. 

Aldi Sud Ireland has been taking measures to use only recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging for all the products under its private labels by 2022. By 2025, packaging will be reduced by 50%. 

Aldi Nord is a German retail chain and entered Luxembourg in 1990. Nowadays, Aldi Nord Luxembourg operates 15 stores in the country.

Aldi Nord Luxembourg offers products in the following categories:

• Drinks: wine, beer, liquor, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: jam, chocolate spread, sugar,etc.
• Savory Grocery: oil, vinegar, spices, grains, etc.
• Dairy: eggs, cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: vegetables, meat, charcuterie, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meals, snacks, vegetables, desserts etc.
• Personal Care: oral care, skincare, makeup, hair care, etc.
• Household: laundry care, cleaning supplies and other products

Some of the brands offered are Tartichoc, Biocura, Ax, Nivea, etc. 

Aldi Nord Luxembourg also offers products from Aldi Nord’s private labels.

Food products at Aldi are certified with quality label such as:

• Fairtrade
• UTZ Certified
• Rainforest alliance certified
• Pêche Durable MSC
• MPS
• V-Label

Aldi Nord, a retail chain founded in Germany, launched in the Netherlands in 1973. Nowadays, Aldi Nord Netherlands runs a total of 492 stores. Furthermore, the company has a market share of 6.8% in the country. 

Aldi Nord Netherlands also owns a virtual mobile operator, Aldi Talk. 

The enterprise has a workforce of more than 11,086 people. 

Several products are available in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: canned food, pet food, pasta, sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: coffee, tea, cocoa, confectionery, etc.
• Drinks: beer, wine, soft drink, iced tea, etc. 
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, vegetables, fruits, pastries, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meal, dessert, seafood, etc.
• Personal Care: face care, hair care, oral care, etc.
• Household: cleaning supplies, disposables, laundry detergent, etc.

Some of the brands available are Unox, Bifi, Heinz, Honig, Iglo, etc.

Aldi Nord Netherlands also offers products under its own labels such as (but not limited to):

• Albona: a brand of baking mixes, sugar, cake fillings, etc.
• Baldo: a range of pet food
• Flavours of the sun: a range of sauces, ready-meals, salads, etc. 
• Goedland: a range of sauces, pickles, canned foods, etc. 
• Heerlick Banquet: a brand of pastries,confectioneries, biscuits, etc. 

A range of vegan and organic food is also available in the stores, such as Vegan Tuna Sandwich from BettaF!ish. 

With regards to the community, Aldi Nord Netherlands has partnered with JOGG foundation which helps children and teenagers reach a healthy weight and learn about healthy foods. The company is thus improving its products to include less sugar and salt.

Furthermore, since 2019, the business has started to provide only reusable bags and has stopped selling disposable shopping bags.

Additionally, in 2021, Aldi Nord Netherlands, in collaboration with Trigo Vision, is investing in a cashier-less store in order to provide an autonomous shopping experience. 

Aldi Nord started with 10 stores in Poland in 2008 and now the German discount giant accounts for over  100 stores in the country.

There are 3000 people who are currently working for Aldi Nord Poland.

Aldi Nord Poland offers products in the following categories:

• Drinks: wine, beer, liquor, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: jam, chocolate spread, sugar,etc.
• Savory Grocery: oil, vinegar, spices, grains, etc.
• Dairy: eggs, cheese, milk, yoghurt, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: vegetables, meat, charcuterie, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meals, snacks, vegetables, desserts etc.
• Personal Care: oral care, skincare, makeup, hair care, etc.
• Household: laundry care, cleaning supplies and other products

Some of the products offered are from brands like Maluta, Sery y Goiszewa, ZPH Mark, Lukosz, etc. 

Aldi Nord Poland offers both private labels and branded products.

Furthermore, Aldi Nord Poland sources its products from Poland itself. 50% of the private label products are produced in the country.

Headquartered in Portugal, the company forms part of the retail group El Corte Inglés since 2001. The business was originally founded by Ramón Areces Rodriguez and Cesar Rodriguez Gonzalez in Spain. El Corte Inglés prides itself in providing everything in one place, with quality, service, guarantee and personalized service.

An online store is also available on the site. 

The company currently has 2 department stores, 6 Supercor supermarkets and 1 Opportunities Centre. 

With a workforce of 80,814 people, El Corte Inglés achieved a turnover of € 10.43 billion in 2020.

Several products are available in the following categories:

• Chilled & Fresh Food: fruits, bread, vegetable, etc
• Dairy: cheese, milk, egg, etc
• Drinks: water, juice, ice tea, etc
• Sweet Grocery: chocolate, jam, biscuit, etc
• Wine & Spirits: wine, eum, whiskey, etc
• Savory Grocery: rice, pulses, pet food, etc
• Frozen Food: fish, meat, chicken, etc
• Personal Care: shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, etc
• Homecare: detergent, soap, sanitizer, etc

El Corte Inglés works with international brands such as Gliss, Go Chill, Nestum, Oreo, etc. Additionally, the enterprise buys its products from various Portuguese suppliers, specifically more than 50% of its suppliers are Portuguese suppliers, with more than 80% in the food sector. Some of these local brands include Costa Nova, Spal, Salsa, etc. 

A line of natural and bio products is also available. These include brands such as Babybio, Super Bock, Why not, etc. 

The business also offers services such as insurance, under the brand El Corte Inglés Insurance, and tour guide under the brand El Guide Porto. 

Moreover, all suppliers working with the business must comply with the Principles of ethical commitment of the BSCI, (Business Social Compliance Initiative) Code of Conduct. 

With regards to the environment, El Corte Inglés indulges in several actions, some of which include the reduction of consumption of energy, water and materials. The firm also partakes in controlling green gas emissions through measures such as greenhouse, supporting the use and marketing of goods from more environmentally friendly consumption,etc. 

By 2022, El Corte Inglés aims to be certified zero waste. 

The online store can be accessed at:www.el-corte-ingles.pt 

Established in 2005, ALDI Süd operates as Hofer in Slovenia.

It operates over 90 stores across the country.

The company employs more than 2,000 employees and its turnover adds up to more than €300 million. 

It offers a variety of products under different categories such as: 

• Sweet grocery: chocolate, waffles, cookies, etc.  
• Savory grocery: rice, pasta, bread, etc.
• Fresh and chilled: meat, fish, soups, etc.
• Frozen: seafood, pizza, meat, etc.
• Dairy: yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.
• Drinks: fizzy drinks, water, juice, etc. 
• Household: kitchen napkins, toilet papers, detergents, etc.
• Personal care: shampoo, conditioner, face masks, etc.     
• Wine and spirits: beer, wine, gin, etc. 

 The firm offers a range of products under its own brands known as:

• Bio natura(organic products): biscuits, meat, pasta, etc.
• Milfinia(a wide range of more than 200 dairy products): whipped cream, yogurt, lactose-free milk, etc.
• Taste of tradition(Hofer’s bakery): special types of bread, meat burek, cheese, etc.

Aldi Nord Spain is the Spanish branch of Aldi Nord, a major international discount supermarket chain that operates across Europe, including Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, and Luxembourg. Aldi Nord Spain is headquartered in Barcelona and is part of the wider Aldi Nord group, which is known for its no-frills shopping model emphasizing private-label products, operational efficiency, and competitive pricing. 

Since entering the Spanish market in 2002, Aldi Nord Spain has significantly expanded its presence, becoming the fastest-growing supermarket chain in the country over the past five years. As of late 2025, the company operates approximately 480 stores across Spain, including new expansions into regions such as the Basque Country, Balearic Islands, Madrid, and the Canary Islands. The store count has grown from fewer than 300 stores five years ago to nearly 500 today. The retail sales area of Aldi stores in Spain has increased by 60% since 2020 to over 530,000 square meters. 

The company employs over 7,700 people in Spain, reflecting a 38% increase in personnel over the last five years. These employees support the operations of stores, distribution centers, and warehouses. Aldi Nord Spain operates multiple distribution centers including facilities in locations such as Agüimes (Gran Canaria), Sagunt (Valencia), and Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) to support logistics, supply chain efficiency, and product freshness. 

Aldi Spain offers a wide range of products focusing primarily on food, beverages, and beauty categories with a strong emphasis on private labels. Their assortment includes over 500 fresh products with approximately 80% being of Spanish origin. The company collaborates with more than 400 Spanish suppliers, sourcing predominantly from regions like Aragon, Catalonia, Andalusia, and Galicia. The purchasing focus has increased on fresh Spanish meat, fruits, and vegetables, with plans to expand local procurement further to enhance product quality and sustainability. 

Financially, Aldi Nord Spain reported an estimated turnover in the range of €200 to €500 million in the most recent fiscal year of 2024, reflecting its steady growth amidst competitive retail forces. The company plans to continue expanding with at least 20 new store openings annually in key regions across Spain. 

The Aldi supermarket format in Spain typically comprises supermarkets and extensive logistics infrastructure, including distribution centers and warehouses, designed to ensure high availability and competitiveness. Aldi stores focus on a customer-friendly, efficient shopping experience with quality products at competitive prices. Expansion strategy and sustainable growth are central to its operations.

Aldi Switzerland is run by Aldi Sud group. Opened in the year 2005 the discounter now counts around 180 outlets. The company is proud of its cooperation with local manufacturers. Indeed, the products are Swissmade and are of high quality. The discounter has even a Suisse guarantee label and also provides private labelled products namely:

• Nature Suisse
• Nature Suisse Bio

The cooperation between Aldi and the suppliers is their way of being an integral part of the Swiss economy.

Established in 1988, Aldi is a discount retailer headquartered in Atherstone, United Kingdom.

It operates over 950 stores across the country.   

In the financial year 2021, its turnover amounted to €15.7 billion. The company employs over 50,000 workers.

It provides various products under different categories such as:

• Savory grocery: pasta, rice, sandwich, etc.  
• Sweet grocery: chocolate, cookies, cakes, etc.
• Frozen: ice cream, fish, meat, etc.
• Fresh and chilled: fruits, vegetables, salmon, etc.
• Dairy: milk, butter, cheese, etc.
• Drinks: soft drinks, juice, water, etc.
• Household: detergents, fabric softeners, cleaning products, etc.
• Personal care: facial care, hair care, body care, etc.
• Wine and spirits: wine, beer, liqueurs, etc.

Aldo offers private label products such as: ‘Benton’s’ ice cream products, ‘Benner’ tea, ‘Cattleman's ranch’ beef patties and many more. 

Founded by Joe Coulombe, Trader Joe’s can be defined as an American grocery chain. Beginning as a humble convenience store in 1958, Trader Joe's was at that time known as Pronto markets and now operates 530 stores in 42 states, under the banner Trader Joe’s across the US. Its first store was opened in 1967 in Pasadena, California. Trader Joe’s was acquired by Aldi Nord in 1979. Moreover, the company has offices in Monrovia, and Boston, Massachusetts. It operates an online shop as well.

In 2021, Trader Joe’s opened 2 stores in New York and Newark. It is planning on launching 2 more shops in Crestview Hills and South Bend.

Trader Joe’s employed 50 000 people and achieved a turnover of €14 billion in 2021, up by 8.05% compared to 2020.

Moreover, Trader Joe’s was ranked 23rd among the 2019 Glassdoor best places to work in the US, and won the 14th position in 2020.

Trader Joe’s offers products in various categories including:

• Drinks: ice tea, juices, sparkling drinks, etc.
• Savory Grocery: crisps, tortilla chips, oil, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: sugar cones, apple sauce, cookie mix, etc.
• Chilled and Fresh Food: salads, ready-meals, hummus, salsa, etc.
• Frozen Food: ice-cream, vegetarian patties, etc.
• Dairy: cheese and various dairy products
• Personal Care: face care and other personal care products

Trader Joe’s also offers vegetarian, vegan, organic and dairy-free products. 

The grocery chain has even launched its own brands with regards to food ethnicity such as (but not limited to):

• TraderJoe’s: a range of food and non-food products
• Trader Jose: a brand of Mexican foods
• Arabian Joe: a range of Middle Eastern foods
• Trader Joe San: a brand featuring Japanese foods

 80% of the products that Trader Joe’s offers are from its own brands. Items supplied by the company’s private labels are free from artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, genetically modified ingredients, partially hydrogenated oils and MSG.

Trader Joe's is the exclusive distributor of Charles Shaw wine, also known as "Two Buck Chuck".

As a step towards sustainability, Trader Joe’s composted and recycled over 670 million pounds of materials as well as reducing its food waste. over 2 million pounds of plastic packaging were replaced with more eco-friendly options.

Trader Joe’s online shop can be accessed on www.traderjoes.com

It was in the year 1997 that Auchan made its entry into the Chinese market. Following this, a hypermarket was opened in Shanghai 2 years later. After that, it was the only successful expansion of Auchan in other regions of China. By the year 2014, Auchan has managed to open 61 hypermarkets in the various cities of China (precisely in more than 30 cities). In 2013, their 300th Auchan store was inaugurated in southern China.

Since 2000, Auchan group has joined the Ruentex group to form the SUN Art Retail Group. Since then 2 hypermarket banners is known in China:

Auchan - with 56 hypermarkets RT Mart - with 244 hypermarkets

Today, the general retail chain has a total of 300 hypermarkets. In fact, Auchan China is the second largest food retailer in the world.

Auchan Hungary (Auchan Magyarország Kft.) is a leading FMCG retail group operating in Hungary, part of the international Auchan Retail network. Since entering the Hungarian market in 1998, Auchan has established itself as a major player in the food, beverage, and household retail sector, offering a broad range of products at competitive prices. The company operates a network of hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, with a growing e-commerce presence and a commitment to innovation in retail technology.

As of 2024, Auchan Hungary manages 24 branded stores, including 19 hypermarkets, 5 supermarkets, and 1 convenience store, serving customers across the country. The company also operates 18 discount fuel stations and continues to expand its digital and physical retail footprint. In November 2024, Indotek Group acquired a 47% stake in Auchan Hungary, signaling a strategic partnership aimed at further strengthening the brand’s market position and supporting long-term growth.

Auchan Hungary employs approximately 6,000 to 7,000 people, making it one of the largest retail employers in the country. The company is known for its responsible employment practices and commitment to sustainability, including energy-efficient store renovations and support for local communities. Auchan’s headquarters in Budaörs serves as the central hub for administrative, strategic, and operational management, ensuring seamless coordination across its retail network. 

The retailer offers a diverse product portfolio, with a strong focus on groceries, beverages, and household essentials, as well as private label brands and exclusive programs such as the Auchan Baby Program. Auchan Hungary has also launched innovative store formats, including cashierless convenience stores powered by AI and mobile technology, reflecting its commitment to modernizing the shopping experience. 

Financially, Auchan Hungary reported a turnover in the range of 100 to 200 million EUR in 2024, reflecting its significant market share and ongoing investment in retail expansion and digital transformation. The company continues to explore new formats and multi-channel strategies, positioning itself as a dynamic and forward-thinking partner for suppliers and manufacturers in the FMCG sector. 

Key selling points:

• Hypermarket
• Supermarket
• Convenience

Auchan, a French retail chain, launched in Italy in 1989. The chain consists of 1600 shops. In 2019, Conrad acquired Auchan Italy from Auchan Retail. 

Auchan Italy employs 18000 people. 

Auchan Italy offers products in the following categories:

• Sweet Grocery: biscuits, industrial pastries and other confectionery
• Savory Grocery: oil, pasta, sauces, etc.
• Dairy: an extensive range of cheeses
• Drinks: alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Chilled & Fresh Food: meat, charcuterie, cold cuts, etc.
• Personal Care: skincare, face care, hair care, etc. 

The products available at Auchan also include gluten-free, organic, lactose-free, etc. 

Recently an agreement has been made between the local brand Eataly and Auchan Italy and now the Eataly products are now being sold in Auchan. This has allowed 50 Italian Auchan to sell Eataly's products which included :

• Pasta
• Sauces
• Olive oil
• Wine

Auchan Italy also distributes products from its products from Auchan’s private labels:

• Cosmia: a line of cosmetic products 
• Qilive: home and leisure products
• In Extenso: a brand of clothing
• Passions: a brand offering cheese, sauces, charcuterie, etc. 
• Actuel: a range kitchen utensils and home accessories

Auchan Luxembourg is a retail chain which was established in 1996. Its headquarters is based in Rue Alphonse Weicker, Luxembourg. The company is a subsidiary of the French retail group, Auchan Retail. 

Presently, the business operates 3 Auchan hypermarkets, 4 Auchan Drive collection points and 11 MyAuchan convenience stores. Auchan Luxembourg has its e-commerce platform as well. 

Auchan Luxembourg achieves an annual turnover of more than €228 million and currently employs 1,250 people. 

Moreover, the enterprise offers a variety of food and non-food products in the following categories: 

• Savoury grocery: pastas, rice, flour, etc. 
• Sweet grocery: tea, chocolates, coffee, etc. 
• Dairy: milk, yoghurts, butter, etc. 
• Chilled & fresh: meat, fruits, ready meals, etc. 
• Frozen: meat, vegetables, ice creams, etc.
• Drinks: juice, energy drinks, water, etc. 
• Wine & spirits: beers, wines, rums, etc. 
• Household: detergents, air fresheners, bin bags, etc.
• Personal care: shampoos, deodorants, body lotions, etc. 

Brands such as Alpro, Rana, Omo, Cajoline, Signal, Mutti, Scotti, Rio, Rosso and many others are endorsed by the firm. 

Auchan Luxembourg developed its private labels known as (non-exhaustive list):

• Cosmia: A line of personal care products. 
• InExtenso: A line of comfortable clothes. 
• Auchan Organic: A brand dedicated to bio products. 
• Auchan Baby: This brand is dedicated to baby products. 

The company’s online shop can be accessed on: https://www.auchan.lu/fr 

Auchan, the French retail  chain, opened its doors in Poland in 1996. Over the years Auchan Poland successfully grew into 127 stores and also developed its online store known as Auchan Direct. 

Auchan operates under the following banners:

• Auchan Hypermarkets
• Auchan Supermarkets
• My Auchan

In the financial year 2021, Auchan Poland achieved a turnover of €2.32 billion and employed 17,000 people. 

Auchan Poland offers products in the following categories:

• Savory Grocery: oil, vinegar, canned food, sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: sugar, tea, jam, seet canned food, etc.
• Drinks: juice, wine, beer, water, soft drinks, etc.
• Dairy: milk, eggs, cheese, buttermilk, etc.
• Chilled & Fresh Food: seafood, meat, poultry, charcuterie, etc.
• Frozen Food: ready-meals, ice-cream, fish, vegetables, etc.
• Personal Care: hair care, hygiene, fragrances, oral care, etc.
• Household: air freshener, washing liquid, disinfectant, etc.

Some of the brands sold at Auchan Poland include Lindt, Cleanic, Bonduelle, Taheeboo, etc.

Auchan Poland provides products under its own brands which are:

• Auchan:  a brand featuring products including food and non-food items for customers and professionals
• Cosmia: a brand of cosmetics featuring over 700 references
• In Extenso: a clothing brand
• Qilive: a brand of affordable electronics and household appliances
• Actuel: a range of products for the home
• Selecline: a range of home appliances
• Cup’s: a brand of sports equipment
• Airport: a brand of travel bags and suitcases

Auchan Poland has been involved in helping the Polish community through the Auchan Foundation and by supporting other associations and foundations. The organisation has sponsored 74 projects in the country since 2011. 

Auchan Poland’s online store, Auchan Direct, can be accessed on www.auchandirect.pl

Auchan, a chain of general retail stores based in France, entered Portugal by acquiring the long established store chain Pao de Acucar in 1996. 

Currently, Auchan Portugal runs 67 stores across the country as well as 29 petrol stations. An online shop is also available on the website. 

With a turnover of €1.52 billion, the company employs 8,479 employees. 

The business also offers its online service, Auchan Pick&Go, which allows customers to shop online and collect at various pick up points. 

Furthermore, in 2020, Auchan Portugal entered into a strategic partnership with Glovo. The following year, Auchan and Cash Converters collaborated to create a new hypermarket which will allow customers the possibility of buying and selling second-hand products.

In 2021, Auchan Portugal won The Best Portuguese Online Store for the 3rd consecutive year. Other awards include Brand #1 in Consumer Choice, Five Star Award for 7 consecutive years, The Best Portuguese Online Store, etc.

Various products in different categories such as:

• Savory Grocery: spices, rice, canned food sauces, etc.
• Sweet Grocery: sugar, breakfast cereals, jam, chocolate, coffee, etc. 
• Drinks: water, energy drink, soft drink, beer, wine, etc.
• Dairy: milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, etc.
• Frozen Food: meat, ice-cream, seafood, fruits, vegetables, etc.
• Wine & spirits: a wide assortment of wines 
• Chilled & Fresh Food: bread, seafood, pastries, fruits, charcuterie, etc. 
• Personal Care: fragrances, hygiene products, baby care,hair care, etc.
• Household: cleaning supplies, air freshener, bleach, disposables, etc

There are a number of items which are organic, dairy-free, vegan, etc. 

Auchan Portugal offers products from brands such as Evian, Carlsberg, Guylian, Vahine, etc. Local brands such as Cervejas, Fresco, Garrafeira, etc, are also available. 

Furthermore, the company also provides several brands from Auchan’s private labels such as (but not limited to):

• Auchan: a range of food and non-food items including organic ones
• Cosmia: a line of cosmetic products 
• Qilive: home and leisure products
• In Extenso: a brand of clothing
• Actuel: a range kitchen utensils and home accessories
• BANDO: offers a wide assortment of wines

Additionally, Auchan is the sole company in Portugal which is certified in social responsibility and owns 13 shops with environmental certification.

The firm works with around 200 Portuguese producers. In fact, 90% of its portfolio consists of local-made products. The aim of the business for 2022 is to provide more exclusive and local products to its clients. Auchan Portugal is focusing on developing more nutritious items. 

Moreover, Auchan Portugal has decided to publish all the necessary information about its products so that customers can easily trace their origin. 

With regards to the community, the company supports its foundations such as Weave Our Future and Auchan Foundation for Youth which work towards helping young people and communities by providing health, nutrition, internships, improving working conditions of employees, etc.  

The online shop can be accessed on www.auchan.pt

Auchan established their presence in Romania in the year 2006 by opening the first and largest hypermarket. The headquarters is based in Bucharest, Romania. The firm operates 48 stores across the country.

The retailer provides a wide assortment of goods under the following categories:

• Chilled & fresh
• Dairy
• Savory grocery
• Sweet grocery
• Drinks
• Personal care
• Household

Furthermore, the firm offers a wide range of private label products which are known as:

• Auchan - This brand is dedicated to all products categories.
• Economic product (pouce) - This line covers the food and non-food categories.
• Rik & Rok - In this line, food and non-food products for children are available.  
• Baby - Baby products are the specialty of this brand.
• Cosmia - Beauty products for makeup, skin and body care are available in this brand.
• Actuel - In this line, various decorations for household are available.
• Airport - Under this brand, products such as travel bags, baby bags and accessories are sold.
• CUP'S - This line has been designed especially for sports lovers.
• Qilive - In this line, appliances such as TV, refrigerators, coffee makers, etc,.. are available.
• Inextenso - Under this brand, textile products for children, women and men are sold at a very good price.

Besides, production labs are present in the hypermarkets for bakery purposes.

Additionally, the firm partnered with Tibbett Logistics, a Romania-based transport, intermodal and contract logistics specialist for their supply chain management.

In the financial year 2016, the firm amounted a revenue of 1.08 billion euros. Auchan has a dedicated entrepreneurial team of 10000 employees.

The retailer is less and less dependent on Auchan RI particularly for sourcing issues and will be focussing on foreign manufacturers.

Auchan has been established in 2002. The headquarters is based in Moscow, Russia. The firm operates as a subsidiary of Auchan Holding. The firm today operates over 300 stores across the country. In fact, Auchan Russia is considered the third largest market after France and China, with revenue attaining 4000 million euros in 2014. In the year 2016, the firm was ranked 1st in a list of the largest foreign owned companies by the Russian edition of Forbes. 

The firm offers a wide assortment of products under the following categories:

• Sweet grocery
• Savory grocery
• Drinks
• Household
• Personal care

Auchan provides its own brands and the products are even cheaper by 10 to 20% than other Russian competitors.  

Some of Auchan’s private labels are as follows:

• Le moins cher -Economic product line
• Les produits Auchan
• Rik et Rok - children products
• Les produits régionaux - regional specialities
• Mmm! - Auchan gourmet items
• Mieux vivre Bio/sans gluten - bio and or gluten free products
• Baby - baby products
• Kazhdyi Den - Ecoomic line in Russia
• Nasha sem'ja - local economic line in Russia

The firm started producing its own line of products in Russia in 2003 and introduced the ‘Kazhdy Den’ (Everyday) which is an economy line of products.

As of 2017, the firm used 29 different private label brands but they have decided to merge the brands under the Auchan Umbrella brand in Russia. The transformation is going to take approximately 2 years according to Auchan Russia’s marketing director.  

Employing over 43000 collaborators, the general retail chain continues to expand with its private labels and a large product assortments at competitive prices.

The company achieved 5.7% of the Russian market share in the year 2016. The firm considers Russia as the third most important country in terms of turnover. According to Lz Retailytics, Auchan along with five other retailers are going to expand their joint market share to almost 50% by the year 2021.