Carrefour - 2017 Registration Document

2 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Supporting our partners CARREFOUR | 2017 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 63 Offer SMEs special relationships 5,000 SMEs working in partnership with Carrefour supply more than one in three products on the Group’s shelves. Carrefour’s special relationship with these companies has been established on a product basis. In 1976, 28 SMEs took part in the launch of unbranded products (produits libres). Today, 20 of them still supply Carrefour. The Reflets de France brand, which systematically favours SMEs, is another example of this special relationship. Carrefour’s INNBOX tool for SMEs is permanently available to provide SMEs with free expertise from Carrefour on areas such as product quality, design, packaging, logistics, etc. to support the development of innovative food products. As part of its SME programme, Carrefour China has focused on the development of its financing arm, launching a joint business plan programme between Carrefour and SMEs to share the associated marketing risk. Highlights In 2017, about ten SMEs received support for their investments ● and benefitted from 4.5 million euros in loans. At the same time, four products from the first INNBOX initiative ● for SMEs were launched: a ready-made sweet pastry case from Compagnie Pâtissière, The Good Spoon egg-free sauces with a microalgae base from Algama, and IN health drinks by Lorina. IN was recently awarded the Gré d’Or, a prize awarded to partnerships between SMEs and retailers, by the FEEF (Fédération des Entreprises et Entrepreneurs de France), a federation for businesses and entrepreneurs in France. Carrefour France also founded an SME club to promote close ● relationships with its SME partners: advantages include special signs used in stores for SME partners, three-year contracts, shorter payment terms, direct access to in-store contacts and Carrefour’s marketing and supplier listing departments. Members will also be invited to seminars to discuss topics they have in common. The first of 15 regional branches opened in 2017 in Châlons-en-Champagne. To maintain its local network, Carrefour France took part in ● three agricultural trade fairs and exhibitions open to the general public during the year: the Salon de l’Agriculture agricultural show in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Foire trade fair in Châlons-en-Champagne, and the trade fair in Lessay. The Carrefour stand at these shows highlighted local and regional partners, the Group’s food-related professions through the presence of in-store teams, and regional bodies for listing suppliers. The fourth Carrefour SME and innovation trade fair (Salon ● Carrefour des PME et de l’Innovation) was attended by more than 500 SMEs who presented their products and 1,200 Carrefour employees. An array of innovative new products were showcased, including healthy snacks, organic and vegan products and products that comply with ethical standards, animal welfare and agroecology. During this trade fair, the SME Forum invited suppliers to attend specific seminars to discover how the Group operates and has entered into commitments in several areas, including transport, CSR, organic farming, administrative and commercial, e-commerce, etc. At the end of the trade fair, the SME Innovation Trophy (Trophée ● des PME et de l’innovation) was awarded to six French suppliers for products combining innovation with social and environmental responsibility, including a plant-based washing-up liquid and dried fruits with no added sugar or additives. Lastly, since 2017 in France, all buyers who join the Company, as ● well as the most experienced members of staff, are given specific training on building close relationships with SMEs. Did you know? Carrefour’s SME cash programme gives SMEs access to short-term credit if they need cash, short term investment financing or are seeking to develop their business relations with Carrefour. Promote local suppliers Carrefour’s policy Carrefour gives priority to products sourced locally from the country in which they are sold, particularly food products. The Group wants to create a network of SMEs in its countries of operation, connect them to its stores and involve them in its growth. [CSR index] To promote local suppliers, Carrefour develops lines of regional specialty products in all of its countries of operation. Since 2013 in Belgium, for example, producers located no more than 40 kilometres from a hypermarket have been able to become listed as a supplier within two weeks and enter into direct contact with that store. Since 2014, the Group’s SME plan in France has strengthened cooperation between Carrefour and SMEs across all food and non-food industries. Lastly, Carrefour gives priority to French producers for its Carrefour organic lines. Carrefour’s performance In Italy, the Terre d’Italia range boasts over 350 products from ● more than 160 producers. Sales grew by 2.4% compared with 2016. Its products are sold in five other countries where the Group operates (France, Belgium, Poland, Romania and Taiwan). In Spain, the De Nuestra Tierra brand offers 161 products from ● 57 producers. Sales of these products grew by 11.3% in 2017. The Reflets de France brand comprises 610 regional products ● from 332 French producers. With sales of 138 million products in 2017, it advanced 4.4% (in value terms) versus 2016. In 2017, 880 organic Carrefour food products were on store ● shelves in France; one out of every two organic products sold is a Carrefour own-brand product. Most of these products were sourced from national production sites. Only exotic products and citrus fruits not grown in France are imported, or other products imported from the European Union if French production falls short.