Finland's K Group has announced the launch of 'K-RuokaPro', purchasing arm Kespro's online wholesale food store.
The online site, optimised for mobile use, shows wholesale prices to all visitors and doesn't require the installation of a separate app. It will initially be rolled out in Helsinki, showcasing a selection of 6,000 items. The purchased products can be delivered directly to the customer, on a date and time chosen by them, and can be tracked in real time.
Flexible Wholesale Option
Eating out in Finland is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the capital of Helsinki and its environs. As such, vice president Mika Halmesmäki said the company wanted to offer a flexible wholesale option for new restaurants and smaller HoReCa outlets, as well as sports teams and offices.
“We strive to make life easier for restaurants, for example, with modern online services. K-RuokaPro takes this to the next level: it is the first online wholesale store on the market where anyone can place an order, with no login or contracts required,” said Kespro’s Vice President Mika Halmesmäki.
"According to our customers, comparing wholesale prices has been practically impossible because to be able to view the prices, customers must first register for the services. We believe transparent pricing will make shopping and purchase decisions easier," he added.
Future-Proofing
In March, K Group surveyed over 60 grocery trade experts, in order to create an idea of what food shopping could look like in the next ten years.
According to the group, the 'store of the future' would combine the best features of both physical and online grocery stores, including 24-hour pick up of online purchases, restaurant-quality food, nutritional advice, and shopping trips tailored to the needs of each individual customer.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
