Two new organic supermarkets in Spain

Biozucco Distribuciones S.L. is the company behind the trademark Eslaveco and the supermarket of the same name that currently employs 14 staff. At the Eslaveco supermarket (pictures), a large selection of food is offered: for example, fruit and vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy products, oils, nuts, honey, and bakery products. Organic cosmetics, hygiene products, cleaning items, pet food and household goods are also part of the product range.

For 15 years, the company has been operating as a wholesaler, exporter and importer, and it also cultivates land to produce its own crops. Fernando Perez, sales adviser for foreign customers in English and German speaking countries, told Organic-Market.Info that the company has so far been concentrating on supplying food products, especially fresh fruit and vegetables, which mostly are sold under the trademark Eslaveco. All of the company's food products are organic, and most of their goods are certified by CAAE.
 

Horeca (hotel chains, restaurants, catering), schools, hospitals and gourmet food stores are also supplied by Biozucco Distribuciones S.L., with horeca and gourmet food stores frequently requesting products that are complex and difficult to find, like special spice mixes and exotic fruit. Due to their international network and the large number of producers they have been working with for the past 15 years, the company is known to be fast and efficient in finding rare organic products. Fruit and vegetable peel for industrial processing are also increasingly in demand.
 

The company owns about 100 hectares of land, where they produce crops to meet the requirements for specific customers. Since temperatures in the south of Spain are on average higher throughout the year than in the central and northern parts of the country, they have a clear advantage: products can be supplied much earlier and faster than in the other regions and at favourable market prices. Goods are supplied to their customers at a price fixed in pre-signed agreements. The company also provides their facilities for speeches and conferences, dealing with healthy cooking and organic nutrition, since people show an increasing interest in these subjects. The website is a virtual window at the moment, and it is planned to make it into a national online shop, where a selection of the company’s products will be on sale.

In May 2011, Origen will open their second supermarket in Madrid. The company employs 15 people, including six for the new supermarket. About 4,500 references will be offered on more than 450 square meters. The supermarket will be equipped with modern technology to make it as sustainable as possible - with low-power cameras, LED lighting, and biodegradable packaging. Besides offering all the sections of an organic supermarket, organic catering will also play an important role. (Picture: a 3D image of the new supermarket)

Mar Garcia and David Donoso Pia (picture) launched their first organic supermarket in Madrid in 2004, where about 5,000 articles are offered (we reported earlier). The range consists of organic food like fruit and vegetables, bakery products, meat and sausage, milk and dairy products, dry goods, beverages, baby food, soy products, gluten-free items, supplements, Fairtrade articles, pet food, cosmetics, household cleaners, and a range of non-food items. Fruit and vegetables are cooled and seperated by a glass door to keep their maximum freshness. Organic cosmetics have their own space as weel.

About 350 clients receive organic products via the company's home delivery each month.The online shop has been offering organic goods for six years already. To the founders, the promotion of organics and customer education are very important. Therefore, free courses and tastings of organic products are offered on a regular basis. A monthly newsletter keeps their customers up to date. With the customer card, which was introduced in 2007, about 200 products can be purchased with discounts up to 20 % every month. 

Tip: 

http://www.eslaveco.com/

http://www.origenbio.es/supermercados2.asp