Translations

AUCHAN continues its fight against food waste

6. Clients and consumers

Instruction

Sector Business / Distribution

Year 2015

Country France

Transmitter

Context

Every year, each person in France throws out 20 kg of food wastes (including 7 kg of food still in its original packaging) … or 400 euros on average for a family of 4. In a context of economic crisis and growing social instability, Auchan has decided to reinforce its policies in the fight against food waste. Globally, Auchan sells 97% of its purchased merchandise the traditional way, and exceptionally with big price discounts a few days before the expiration date of the products. The rest is then shared between food donations and recycling in the form of methanization and composting.

Objectives

Help associations provide meals to the disadvantaged, using unsold consumables without risk
Raise awareness among consumers about waste and provide concrete solutions.
Contribute to the evolution of legislation (for example to facilitate donations to associations.)
Reduce breakage and loss in stores.

APPROACH

Auchan’s main actions in the fight against waste include:

Food donations, in line with health and legal requirements: in 2014, local partnerships between 117 Auchan hypermarkets and the major national food banks distributed the equivalent of 13 million meals.
Differentiated offers that help consumers buy the right quantities they need. Since the beginning of 2014, Auchan is the leading brand in France to test BOGOFL (Buy one now, get one free later) to give consumers an incentive to avoid buying bigger quantities than they can consume or store.
Bulk sales
New products for limiting waste were launched in 2014, like Auchan's tomato powder (4 uses in 1 depending on the quantity of water added: coulis, purée, concentrate, soup) and Auchan's frozen gratin casseroles available in individual "portions".
Promotion of local initiatives that seek to find practical solutions to prevent waste: “jam operations” for bruised or ripe fruit, the “Sea Basket” partnership for the preparation of fish soup using unsold but fresh products from the fish section, pedagogical initiatives with workshops to teach customers “how to prepare leftovers" , the opération "ugly fruits and vegetables" in Velizy.
Awareness poster "Waste, no Thanks" displayed in Auchan stores.

Best Practice selected by the World Forum for a Responsible Economy in 2013 and updated in 2015.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Strong interest of the clientele, who can find the offers and recommendations in the promotional materials.
Savings achieved thanks to the reduction of breakage and loss through a multitude of best practice.

Benefits

Aid to the disadvantaged with food donations (equivalent to 13 million meals).
In 2014, 20,000 tons of wastes methanized.