Carrefour Brasil has launched an initiative to sell fruit and vegetables that do not correspond to traditional aesthetic standards.
The retailer's Únicos programme will offer over ten different types of fruits and vegetables at discounted prices of up to 30%. It aims to encourage the consumption of 'ugly' produce, with unusual sizes or aesthetic defects that are not in line with the standards adopted by producers and retailers in Brazil.
Part of Carrefour Group's sustainability platform, the initiative has been introduced with the goal of reducing food waste, creating new possibilities for fresh produce that often doesn’t reach the tables of consumers.
The Únicos programme will be initially rolled out in two hypermarkets in São Paulo, located in the Pinheiros and José Bonifácio neighbourhoods.
Several varieties of fruits and vegetables, such as zucchinis, potatoes, eggplants, beets, onions, carrots, chayote, oranges, apples, cucumbers and tomatoes, will be sold in vacuum-sealed packages.
Since 2015, Carrefour Brasil’s cash-and-carry format, Atacadão, has been marketing non-standard produce through the 'Sans Form' programme, where 'ugly' fruits and vegetables are sold at a discount. The initiative is currently in place at nine self-service Atacadão stores in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Pernambuco.
Expansion Plans
Meanwhile, Carrefour Brasil has opened its 100th proximity store in Brazil, in the central area of São Paulo.
Proximity retail is one of the drivers of Carrefour's expansion in Brazil, with over 30 stores launched in 2017, providing more flexibility and convenience when buying daily and ready-to-eat products.
The format is now present in São Bernardo do Campo, Santo André, São Caetano, Osasco and Barueri, in addition to several neighbourhoods in São Paulo.
Last month, Carrefour Brasil reported that consolidated gross sales in the third quarter of 2017 grew by 5.5%, to BRL 12.24 billion (€3.26 billion).
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
