Spanish retailer Eroski and Basque accessible employment agency, Gureak, have opened the third supermarket entirely managed by employees with disabilities, in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
This is the second supermarket of its kind in the Basque capital - the first was inaugurated in September 2016. It has a staff of 11 people and sales space of 450 metres square, and offers more than 3,500 of the leading branded, own-brand, and local products, along with a large stock of fresh items, especially local, seasonal fruits and vegetables. The store also boasts an in-store bakery.
In line with Eroski's expansion plans, Eroski will work with other social organisations to create similar employment projects for people with disabilities, through its franchising programme.
"A year and a half ago we started a pioneering initiative of social innovation, with the hope of being able to extend it. The positive balance of the two prior experiences has driven this third project, and confirms the competitiveness of our franchised store model, open to being shared with entrepreneurs, cooperatives and social enterprises, with the aim of creating employment and wealth in our environment and to advance the diversification of social employment," according to franchise director, Enrique Martínez.
The director of Gureak, Iñigo Oyarzaba, added that, "We work with a consolidated model of employability for people with disabilities that creates new opportunities for personal and professional development for those who need more support. The franchise model of Eroski was adapted perfectly to our needs and permitted us to work in contact with the public, illustrating the abilities that every person possesses."
Eroski has 1,286 supermarkets, 54 supermarkets, and 19 cash&carry outlets throughout Spain.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
