Continuous modernization of retail networks. Effort, success and influence on national food and beverage production
During the prestigious BucharestFoodSummit event, organized with the support of Computerland Romania – Gold Sponsor, a new round of heated debates took place between retail representatives and farmers, regarding the importance of selling Romanian products in supermarkets.
Thus, on October 29, 2020, starting at 10:30, the event "Continuous modernization of retail networks. Effort, success and influence on national food and beverage production" took place at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest, moderated by Gabriel Biris, Founding Partner, Biris-Goran Law Firm, and Bogdan Popovici, BucharestFoodSummit.
The event was attended by Mr. Minister Adrian Oros, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with representatives of major players in the retail industry, farmers, but also guests from the entrepreneurial and academic environment in the field.
The entire event easily highlighted the idea of the need for small producers to collaborate with large chain stores, the latter being the ones that can support entrepreneurs by offering space to sell products under acceptable terms and conditions.
However, Mr. Alexandru Baciu, who manages 2,000 hectares of agricultural land, Ferma Baciu and a slaughterhouse, believes that for many businesses in the sector, retail is not a solution, because it is very difficult to deliver the requested industrial quantities, without guaranteeing correct shelf positioning.
In addition, farmer Baciu predicts that in the future many proximity stores with Romanian products will appear, opened by Romanian producers themselves, because we can speak of a continuously growing demand.
On the other hand, Mr. Mario Cretu, Corporate Affairs Manager, Carrefour, believes that cooperation between Romanian producers and large store chains is absolutely necessary, in order to promote Romanian products, giving some examples of projects supported by Carrefour in recent years: “Creste, Romania Bio”, “Deschidem Vinul Romanesc” and “Cooperativa Varasti”.
Next, Mr. Paul Anghel, General Director, ANPC, drew attention to the need for increased quality of the products sold, as it is important for Romanians to eat less and of quality and not more and of bad quality. Therefore, supermarkets should knock on the door of producers and not the other way around.
The Rector of USAMV, Mr. Sorin Campeanu, continued the series of debates, arguing that in order to have the desired results, all forces and powers should be channeled into research, association and education.
Both Mr. Mihai Toader, Production and Sourcing Manager, Auchan Retail Romania, and Mr. Valer Hancas, Corporate Affairs & Communication Director, Kaufland Romania and Moldova, also supported the point of view of the representatives of large supermarkets, which is not always shared with that of farmers, each having different interests and needs.
In conclusion, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Adrian Oros, took the floor, raising the issue of subsidy hunters, also drawing attention to the deficient trade balance and the low level of commercialization of Romanian products.
BucharestFoodSummit.ro, now in its third edition, is the largest and most important international autumn event in Romania, in agribusiness, food production, beverage production, retail and HoReCa.
This exceptional event, which takes place between September 21 and November 19, 2020, is organized in partnership with: #RomaniaFunctioneaza, FoodBiz, CEC Bank, Biris – Goran Law Firm, ASAS, USAMV Bucharest, ASPES, FIHR, ICDP-Maracineni, HORA, Agrostandard and the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies.
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