SAVING
AT THE STORE
fioiCyaw
haThlco7f ifors' 10d°y,hat
nas changed dramatically and we are
The efficiency work continues when
products reach the store. Intelli
gent planograms, planned truck-
unloading, and purposeful inventory
placement increase speed to shelf.
Shelf-ready packaging, being devel
oped in conjunction with suppliers,
will further improve labor efficiency.
These advances mean store asso
ciates spend less time stocking the
product and more time improving
the customer experience.
This is especially the case at the dis
count format, Bottom Dollar Food.
There, most of the store inventory of
many products can be found on "sky
shelves" located above the top sell
ing shelf. Fresh fruit and vegetables
are presented in their original case
inside a walk-in cooler. Presenting
produce this way means less han
dling from associates, improving not
only efficiency of the associate but
also improving quality of the prod
uct. The less an orange is touched
before it is sold, the better its qual
ity. This is another example of the
way Delhaize Group increases its
efficiency without compromising its
offer to the customers.
01
c
O
00
D
U
O
u_
2012 was another wrenching year for the
eek economy. GDP was down 6% in the
fourth quarter and the unemployment rate
remained at historical levels. Howler
even in this difficult environment, Alfa Beta
showed resistance and even succeeded in
capturing a market share from its compeli-
"ln these uncertain times for customers Alfa
mv wïh benKefi,ed,fr°™ strong idem
tity. We have been known for decades for
our high quality assortment and excellent
service. And long before the effects of the
crisis started to hurt the Greek population
we started investing heavily in lower Stes
explains Kostas Macheras, Executive Vice
President of Delhaize Group and Chief Exec
utive Officer Southeastern Europe. "While in
1998 we were significantly more expensive
price leaders for many categories The per
ception of low prices has maybe not been
^established yet, but what is important is
In snf r°U9 j Process we have managed
to safeguard our identify."
Alfa Beta is able to offer its customers lower
prices than its competitors because of its
disciplined cost control. "We keep costs Inw
by being alert and by watching every ifne
We also benefit strongly from beina Dart nf
an important international group As such
we are ,n an excellent posiiion to talk to
wTnp?rS' CQn guarcln,ee them that they
wfil get paid on time, while we are guaran-
S tesl c»"dita for"
Itoc,"decr
Greek Locality Greekality
Another important feature through which
Alfa Beta won the hearts and the wallets
t ?mers is i,s Inherent Greek charac
Mr M V° Ca"this our Groekality,"says
Mr. Macheras. "Although we are nnrtL
international group, we have been able to
keep our strong local identity. Greeks like
ood and like to eat and while they like to
to What theW ,as,es',hey are als°verj loyal
wbÜh tfiDir country has to offer. So we
went to look for those local products and
gave Greek food to the Greeks amongst
DELHAIZE GROUP ANNUAL REPORT '12 21
