The brand is set for Bologna, bringing its commitment to provide a strong launch for its own brand products and to search for new suppliers “attentive” to its policies

The second largest specialized event for the sector in Europe, among the leading events worldwide; Marca, the international event dedicated to the world of own brand products, created in collaboration with ADM, and set to take place in Bologna on the 13^th and 14^th January 2016, this week is starting up its engines and preparing to welcome brands and companies that operate as copackers. There is great expectation for an event that facilitated over 600 B2B meetings during the last edition.

The 2016 edition is characterized by the presence of new and important brands belonging to the Italian panorama of modern mass distribution. One of these is Carrefour (present in 18 regions, with 1,123 retail points, 503 of which are direct). Explaining the group’s participation at Marca is Gonzague De Carrère, director of private labels for Carrefour Italy.

“We decided,” he explains, “ to attend this new edition of the event in order to demonstrate that own brand labels are a priority for the development of our company, and a key element for improving relations with our client base. It is necessary to kick-start this sector. For this reason we intend to invest. Carrefour’s commitment is focussed on its premium brands, Terre d’Italia, Selection and Bio. Moreover, there will be an increased focus on specific categories of products, I refer, for example, to the gluten free and vegan products. In order to pursue this approach during the first months of 2016 we will be launching a new line of products called Carrefour Veggie”.

In search of the perfect supplier

The presence at Marca will be an opportunity for the professionals of Carrefour to meet with Italian companies and producers. The Italian identity, in fact, is one of the key values that characterize the “supplier of the future”. “In our approach,” explains De Carrère,” the supplier will have to boast some qualities that are essential to our philosophy. In addition to being thoroughly Italian, the primary criteria, the supplier will also have a rigorous respect for the policies, both Italian and of the group. Suppliers will have to show a sensitivity to the themes that we believe are founding principles, such as environmental and social sustainability, attention to the recovery of raw materials and energy saving”. In order to demonstrate to all participants at Marca the group’s daily commitment to these themes, Carrefour will present, also for 2016, the project “The Great Challenge for Suppliers for the Climate”, which in recent months has involved over 650 suppliers and has awarded prizes to seven that have been recognised for having created efficient policies of environmental sustainability.