LEAD LOCALLY
Renovation of Alfa Beta flagship store
BEING SUPERGOOD BY DOING
GOOD BUSINESS
DRIVE PROFITABLE GROWTH
TODAY AND BEYOND
Opening a new distribution center
in Serbia
Delhaize Group Annual Report 2014 27
In 2014, there has been a vast rethinking of
product categories with Alfa Beta introducing
new concepts as well as new product lines.
More specifically, the renovation of our Elliniko
store (Athens), one of the largest Alfa Beta
stores, established a whole new store concept:
Products in bulk such as dry nuts, premium
chocolate, coffee and tea as well as the
usual categories of products, adding a
significant competitive advantage;
A newly developed special beverage area in
the same store accommodates an extensive
assortment from Greek and international
vineyards and even has a controlled temper
ature room to store premium wines as well
as a vending machine for testing wines;
An on-site bakery and an in-store pastry
shop that offers a wide range of custom
recipes and extremely fresh products;
Unprecedented varieties of local and
imported cheese, various deli products as
well as marinated fresh fish and meat with
a strong relationship between quality and
price.
Our new distribution
center in Serbia will
strengthen operational
efficiency and improve
Delhaize Serbia's ability
to provide the best
in fresh products to
customers.
DOW JONES
SUSTAINABILITY INDEX
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index
measures company performance in
economic, social, and environmental
dimensions. The top 10% of performers
in each sector are selected for
the World Index. Our efforts were
recognized during the previous two
years and therefore we made it into
the DJSI. In 2014 however, we fell
short. In 2015, our goal is to get back
in the DJSI, recognized again as a
leader in our sector. In order to do
so we will be using the DJSI more
clearly as a benchmark tool to identify
improvements in how we manage
environmental and social topics
across the business. Our investors
will benefit as being a sustainable
retailer positions us for stronger future
business performance.
Our Supergood goals, especially in the areas
of sustainable private brands and zero waste
help us to uncover new sales opportunities
and push us to operate more efficiently.
Being Supergood is, quite simply, good
business.
Our new distribution center (DC) in Serbia,
which opened in November 2014, will
strengthen our operational efficiency and
profitability and provide fresh products to
our customers. Delhaize Group invested €50
million in the construction of the distribution
center. A key priority for the distribution center
was to transfer our international experience
and knowledge in this area to the Serbian
market and through this continue running our
operations at the highest standards. The DC
will serve around 800 suppliers and employ
750 people by 2020; around 400 associates
worked in the DC at the end of 2014. In line
with our Supergood sustainability strategy,
the distribution center was built with environ
mentally-responsible construction materials,
energy efficient heating and cooling systems,
LED lights and motion sensor systems - part
of our commitment to buildings with lower
environmental footprints.
