Supporting retailers

Because we are an independent, family controlled business, we are not subject to the short term demands of shareholders. This has meant that in 2009 we were able to invest even more in partnership - enabling each and every one of our retail partners to deliver the right range, price and offer to their individual community

Our support extends far beyond leveraging our scale and buying power to encompass all aspects of the retailer business - from cash flow and margin support, through supply chain to the savings and sustainability gains associated with energy and waste efficiency.

We also launched other practical initiatives to help make our partners stronger including:

• We continue to invest heavily in delivering even better value to consumers – for example, in 2009 alone SuperValu announced €230 million in price cuts and offers, reducing the cost of the average trolley of goods by more than €30.
• Our Musgrave Simplifies Retail ordering system - Ireland's biggest IT project - was rolled out to over 100 SuperValu stores to maximise efficiency and product availability for shoppers.
• We see the regeneration of the retail sector as a key driver for economic recovery in all our markets. This is why we’ve strengthened our partnership with our retail partners with the introduction of more business tools and training to support local entrepreneurs in the downturn.
• We’ve strengthened range and offer across the Group – for example, in the UK in 2009 some 600 lines were launched under the Budgens and Londis brands, offering shoppers value at even lower prices in tough times.
• Our store design teams are working with retailers to help cut the costs of refrigeration, lighting and heating, and are helping them reduce their carbon footprints.
• Through an affinity scheme with Airtricity, we can now supply 100 per cent green electricity at low prices to SuperValu and Centra stores in the Republic of Ireland, and to SuperValu, Centra and Mace stores in Northern Ireland.