Independent Retail Europe

How does the SME-empowering cooperative business model of groups of independent retailers function? In the EU, hundreds of thousands of independent retailers operate across many sectors as members of groups of independent retailers. Locally-anchored, they employ millions of people and offer excellent products and expertise. Their business model is key to their success, supporting their entrepreneurial spirit, their autonomy and the uniqueness of each of their stores. Dedicated to serving them, their central cooperative structure, which they jointly own and control, enables them to unify their forces and flourish as a group as well as individually. These family-run businesses make a very important contribution to our local economies.   The unique business model of groups of independent retailers merits recognition by EU and national policy makers to continue to benefit retail SMEs, consumers, local communities and society! REWE Group Conad EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG Euronics Group Expert International Retail Fédération du Commerce Coopératif et Associé (FCA) Groupement des Mousquetaires ICA Gruppen INTERSPORT Group Kesko - K-Group SPAR International DER MITTELSTANDSVERBUND - ZGV e.V. (SME Groups Germany) Barcelona Comerç Markant Gruppe ANWR GROUP Find our video with subtitles in 🇨🇿 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇭🇺 🇷🇴 ➡ https://lnkd.in/eMaKj4Si

📅 On 21 February 2025, the Liaison Group of the #CodeofConduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices discussed with over 50 invited signatories, EU institutions, and wider stakeholders such as NGOs and company representatives the purpose and future of the Code. 🌿 The #CoC is a voluntary industry initiative launched by the European Commission as part of the Farm to Fork Strategy to improve sustainability performance of the food processing, food service, and distribution industry. The “world café”-style workshop encouraged participants to exchange ideas on increasing the added value of the Code for all stakeholders. ✅ There was general agreement among participants that the Code allows for a meaningful exchange of best practices and contributes to the objectives of the #EUFarm2Fork Strategy, as long as commitments go beyond existing EU legislation. 📢 Discussions also focused on enhancing company involvement, including for SMEs. The event proved to be an excellent platform for exchange between EU Commission representatives and stakeholders. 🤝 Independent Retail Europe remains committed to supporting the Code and looks forward to the next workshop in early summer, which will highlight the contributions of food producers and retailers toward sustainable and healthy consumer choices. #Retail #CodeofConduct

‘All we need is a fair partnership with policymakers.’ At our event in the European Parliament on 5 February, Thomas Widlund, independent retailer and member of ICA Gruppen, delivered a clear message: Retail policies must be fair, well-informed, and should not place unnecessary or disproportionate burdens on retailers. On the occasion of the #OmnibusPackage, this message echoes the voice of hundreds of thousands of independent retailers who are calling for balance between sustainability and competitiveness. To help policymakers make the right decisions, Thomas invited them to visit independent retail stores, to talk to the people on the ground and learn firsthand what works and what not. #Retail #Competitiveness #EU  Axel Voss Jörgen Warborn Tamsin Rose Britta Goertz SME Connect

The #EU rightly sees #agrifood as a strategic pillar, the important role of independent retail therein must be recognised in this vision. Local retailers are vital for rural communities, yet remain underrepresented in key policymaking forums. 🔹 Better dialogue: Retailers need wider representation in the European Board of Agriculture and Food (EBAF). 🔍 Transparency matters: Retailers operate on 1-3% margins, while big food multinationals earn far more - this must be reflected in pricing discussions. ⚖️ Fair competition: The #UTP Directive should curb dominance of large multinationals, to avoid harm to farmers, retailers, and consumers. 💡 Sustainability & affordability: Policies must balance green goals with economic realities to keep food accessible. European Commission Christophe Hansen Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union REWE Group Conad EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG Fédération du Commerce Coopératif et Associé (FCA) Groupement Mousquetaires ICA Gruppen Kesko - K-Group SPAR International DER MITTELSTANDSVERBUND - ZGV e.V. (SME Groups Germany) Barcelona Comerç Markant Gruppe Find more in our short Statement 🔽  

Independent Retail Europe Statement on the Omnibus Initiatives ⬇️   Next week, the European Commission is set to unveil its first #OmnibusPackage, a key initiative to reduce unnecessary burdens on businesses. For groups of independent retailers and SME retail, this is a crucial moment. ⚖️🏪 📢 To maintain the competitiveness of groups of independent retailers and SME retail, such Omnibus initiatives should: 🔹 Streamline sustainability reporting – Aligning #CSRD, #CSDDD, and the Taxonomy Regulation with a single timeline and scope to avoid complexity. 🔹 Reduce disproportionate burdens on SMEs – Ensuring that due diligence obligations are limited to direct business partners and do not disproportionately burden the retail sector. 🔹 Allow cooperative groups to report jointly, like corporate structures can, to ease unnecessary administrative pressure. 🔹 Eliminate the special liability regime under the CSDDD. 🔹 Extend transition periods and reducing unnecessary data points to allow businesses to comply effectively without stifling growth. The Omnibus Packages must be ambitious and effective, ensuring that regulations strike the right balance between sustainability and competitiveness. To reach this objective, industry stakeholder organisations should be duly consulted on these packages. Independent Retail Europe urges the Commission to deliver proposals that truly simplify compliance and reinforce the EU’s competitiveness. #Retail #EU #Competitiveness European Parliament Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union For more details ⬇️

How do groups of independent retailers operate in the Canary Islands? 🏪 At our event in the European Parliament on 5/2, Clara Medina Perdomo, Retailer, Director, and Member of SPAR Gran Canaria, shared how their group of 32 independent retailers is deeply rooted in the local community. 🔹 Each store is adapted to the needs of its neighbourhood, providing personalised services and a strong customer focus. 🔹Retailers actively engage in local initiatives, supporting many community projects. 🔹Their goal? To create cohesion by contributing to the development of their local community. 📽️ Watch Clara’s video to learn more! SPAR International Tobias Wasmuht Penny van der Kaars Tamsin Rose Jörgen Warborn Axel Voss #SMERetail #IndependentRetail4VibrantCommunities

Yesterday, at a lively event in the European Parliament, organised by Independent Retail Europe in partnership with SME Connect, a large group of independent retailers from across the EU discussed with MEPs and policy advisors the importance of independent retail for the EU economy and consumers, its challenges and how the European Parliament can support them! On the stage, independent retailers discussed: ✅ The benefits of the cooperative business model of independent retailers – how it empowers local SME entrepreneurs while fostering competition and innovation. ✅ The major positive impact of independent retail on local communities – from supporting farmers and small producers to creating jobs, to investing in local cultural and social initiatives and resolving local neighbourhood issues. ✅ Key challenges – including unfair competition from non-EU traders on platforms, excessive regulatory burdens and red tape, the need for balance between competitiveness and sustainability, and balancing affordable food with inflation and a sustainable food supply chain. 💡 These conversations are essential to ensuring a thriving, fair, and competitive landscape for SME / independent retail in Europe. A special thanks to our incredible panellists for sharing their insights: 👏 Thierry Cotillard, food retailer and President of Groupement Mousquetaires, France 👏 Britta Goertz , leather goods retailer from ANWR GROUP, Germany 👏 Clara Medina Perdomo, food retailer from SPAR Gran Canaria, Spain 👏 Thomas Widlund food retailer from ICA-handlarnas Förbund, Sweden A warm thank you to MEPs Jörgen Warborn, Axel Voss and Kristian Vigenin for hosting and voicing support for policies in favour of a competitive SME retail sector, and to all other participating MEPs and policy advisors for their discussions with the independent retailers. Your engagement is key to shaping policies that support local SMEs and vibrant communities! Independent retail is the cornerstone of vibrant local communities in the EU – we will continue our cooperation with the EP to strengthen the independent retail sector! #SMERetail #IndependentRetail4VibrantCommunities #StrongerTogether Thomas Nonn Else Groen Alexis WARAVKA Romanos Antonopoulos Andrea Schierbaum Margarida Nogueira Horst Heitz Lilia Heitz Oliver Andersson Evgeni Filipov   REWE Group Conad EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG Euronics Group Expert International Retail Fédération du Commerce Coopératif et Associé (FCA) INTERSPORT Group Kesko - K-Group DER MITTELSTANDSVERBUND - ZGV e.V. (SME Groups Germany) Barcelona Comerç Markant Gruppe ANWR GROUP Svensk Dagligvaruhandel Marion Walsmann Laura Ballarín Cereza Paulo do Nascimento Cabral Markus Ferber, MdEP Engin Eroglu Benoit Cassart

For the Brussels arena: food for thought on associative/cooperative business models, like groups of independent retailers. #SMEretail #sustainability #retailcompetitiveness #cooperatives #entrepreneurship

The EU #CompetitivenessCompass highlights the urgency of tackling Europe’s long-standing structural barriers to unlock economic growth and strengthen competitiveness. While the vision goes in the right direction, more is needed, and a competitiveness-focused implementation will be the key to delivering on these promises. At Independent Retail Europe, we encourage the European Commission should be more ambitious and consider a broader approach to simplification, extending efforts beyond taxonomy, due diligence, and financial reporting, to cover other areas that impact SME operations to ensure the competitiveness of SMEs - the heart and soul of Europe’s economy.    Here’s how this can be achieved:   🔹 Systematic SME competitiveness checks during the legislative process; A revision of the SME definition in view of inflation.   🔹 More ambition on it’s Single Market Strategy, removal of barriers to the single market, a more assertive infringement policy and a ban on Territorial Supply Constraints (TSCs).   🔹  EU skilling initiatives that are accessible to all sectors, including retail, to ensure a strong and adaptable workforce.   🔹The creation of a Single Market for waste and reusable materials, critical to improving efficiency and meeting circular economy goals.   🔹 Thorough, inclusive consultation: To ensure the success of these initiatives, the Commission must engage all stakeholders.    #SingleMarket #Retail Else Groen Alexis WARAVKA Andrea Schierbaum REWE Group Conad EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG Euronics Group Expert International Retail Fédération du Commerce Coopératif et Associé (FCA) Groupement Mousquetaires ICA Gruppen INTERSPORT Group Kesko - K-Group SPAR International DER MITTELSTANDSVERBUND - ZGV e.V. (SME Groups Germany) Barcelona Comerç Markant Gruppe ANWR GROUP

In a recent interview with Czech specialised magazine Zboží&Prodej, Else Groen, Director General of Independent Retail Europe and Alexis WARAVKA, Competitiveness and Digital policy Director talked about independent retail in the EU, certain challenges independent retailers face and current EU policy issues. Independent retailers are mostly family-owned businesses that often cooperate under unique business models. Independent retailers play an important social and economic role in their local communities, they work with local producers and service providers and preserve entrepreneurship and diversity in the retail sector. Fair and practical EU legislation is crucial to preserve their ability to thrive on the highly competitive EU retail market. Independent Retail Europe’s close cooperation with EU institutions and stakeholders ensures that the voice of independent retailers is heard. Alexis added that, while the recently revised competition laws and joint purchasing rules have globally improved, challenges like territorial supply restrictions still undermine the single market, as international suppliers of branded food products prevent local retailers from sourcing these products from cheaper markets, leading to higher prices for retailers and consumers alike. A big thank you to our Czech member ACTO and journalists Jitka Hemolová and Petr Hříbal for facilitating this interview and promoting diverse retail perspectives. Find more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eUnk2x8P https://lnkd.in/e2xfzbmD