EuroCommerce, which represents the retail and wholesale sector in Europe, has launched a new website, www.commerceforukraine.eu, which will track the efforts made by retailers and suppliers to support Ukraine to date, and seek to "inspire more actions," according to EuroCommerce director general Christel Delberghe.
With the conflict entering its second month, Europe's retailers continue to offer food, hygiene products and financial donations to charities and organisations, as well as jobs to refugees from Ukraine in EU member states to help them support their families.
EuroCommerce said that the website will be updated regularly to capture more of what companies and associations are doing to help.
'Spontaneous Response'
“These initiatives by Europe’s retailers and wholesalers have been a spontaneous response by the sector and its customers across Europe at the scenes of suffering and destruction in Ukraine," Delberghe said.
"Our actions can, of course, only partially address the immense problems the war has caused. But we hope that our webpage and the actions listed in it will inspire more actions”.
Among the initiatives listed on the website are measures implemented by Schwarz Group, Edeka, REWE Group, Carrefour, Tesco, Aldi and Jerónimo Martins, while representative groups such as POHiD, SOCR CR (Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism) and Kaupan Liitto (Finnish Trade Union Confederation) are also represented.
Doing 'All They Can'
In February, as the conflict broke, EuroCommerce said that retailers and wholesalers would do 'all they can' to assist those affected by the war and its aftermath.
'The thoughts of Europe’s retailers and wholesalers are with the Ukrainian people,' the group said at the time. 'We share their deep sorrow at the lives already lost and the damage to their country, as the Russian Federation, in clear violation of international law, continues its unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state wanting to keep its independence and its democracy.
'Europe and Ukraine have many ties and the EU needs to reflect this in adopting strong sanctions to show that such illegal action is not without consequences for those initiating it.'
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
