Carrefour, the large French retailer, started 5 years ago a plan to give something back to the society. In Belgium they opened their first social grocery store, a corner store where the Business experience in Retailing and the wish to support an increasing number of poor families with food and non-food articles.
The first aim of this store concept was to provide grocery products, hygiene products and cleaning products free of charge or with a big discount. The stores are located close to the target group, at the first store 250 families. The store concept also supports social integration, the employees are younger people who get trained and educated to obtain experience and a possible job at the hypermarkets and supermarkets of Carrefour. In Belgium currently there are 5 of these social corner stores.
The store is provided with samples sent by the central purchasing department (from textile, home and garden and toys departments) or with specific pallets from the warehouses. Such products are 80% cheaper than the price people actually pay in the GB-branded shops and Carrefour Belgium shops. The store design was realized with the equipment no longer used in the main stores.
Local companies and organizations are involved in material and logistic support, taking part in the shops’ performances. The group supplies the corner stores with the required equipment (aisle shelves, refrigerators, display shelves).
The employees have shown real enthusiasm as well as solidarity related to their job, as 5 grocery shops were opened in Belgium and 6 of them in France. 561 Carrefour hypermarkets have been involved. The retail concept also further expanded internationally, with the opening of the first social grocery shop in Athens, and the wish to further roll-out the concept in the different countries Carrefour is present.
At this link you can find information on the opening and the second social grocery store that Carrefour opened in Greece (Piraeus)
