A BALANCED DIET FOR EVERYONE

In contact with 25 million customers every day as Europe’s biggest retailer and the second-largest worldwide retailer, Carrefour has a particular responsibility regarding nutrition.
In all countries where it operates, the Group carries out this responsibility by relying on two major levers: product offerings and information provided to customers.
Carrefour has over 20,000 Carrefour-brand products around the world. By constantly seeking to offer the best value, Carrefour provides as many people as possible with access to a wide range of quality food products, including their entry-level product line, needed for a balanced diet.
A diet that is balanced or affordable? Our customers can have both!
Our responsibility is first to enable all our customers to eat a balanced diet at a reasonable price.

Reformulate the recipes of the Carrefour-brand products
Since 2004, the recipes of all Carrefour products have been reformulated to improve nutritional value and taste. Our suppliers are also contractually obligated to respect our nutritional requirements, especially in the reduction of salt, sugar, fat and trans fats.

Develop nutrition a nutritional line and respond to specific needs
The lifestyles of our customers are constantly changing and Carrefour is there for them, offering products adapted to their needs. In Brazil, for example, the Group has developed the nutritional line Viver, divided into 6 families (Light, Diet, Orgânico, Soja, Enriquecidos and Zero) that combines health and well-being.
For those with food allergies, Carrefour has also developed a range of products specifically with them in mind. For example, for individuals with gluten intolerances, Carrefour in Spain launched “Carrefour sin gluten” (Carrefour gluten-free) in 2008 with FACE (the Spanish Federation of Associations for Celiac Disease, a leading association in Europe). In 2010, this line was expanded to Carrefour stores in France and Italy under the name “No Gluten”.

Develop nutritional product lines for children
Aware of its commitment to children’s nutrition and wanting to offer adapted products, Carrefour developed lines responding to children's nutritional requirements. A major development was the international partnership agreement signed with Disney in 2008, in order to develop "Carrefour Kids” a line of highly nutritional products.
The hundreds of Carrefour Kids products were designed to make children happy and be the benchmark in terms of nutritional value within their family of products: packaging inspired by the Disney universe; products that meet nutritional requirements (caloric intake, ingredients carefully chosen to limit the amount of fats, sugar and salt, and without sugar substitute); affordably priced for everyone.
Carrefour aims to respond to the nutritional needs of active children and give a nutritional guarantee to parents. The packaging of Carrefour Kids products has a wide variety of nutritional information intended for parents and children.

 

FOCUS: "NO GLUTEN" A RESPONSE TO HEALTH REQUIREMENTS OF CUSTOMERS
In 2010, the “No Gluten” product line was introduced to customers in Carrefour stores in France and Italy. Available in all the Carrefour hypermarkets in these two countries, this line was developed for those suffering from celiac disease, i.e. for people who are sensitive to gluten, a substance contained in the flour of certain grains like wheat and rye.
To simplify the lives of those suffering from celiac disease, this range of products is easily recognisable by the colour-coded packaging and the "No Gluten" label. In addition, the AFDIAG (French association for gluten intolerance) has its label on the product packaging.
The product line now offers 16 food products in France and 13 in Italy, including croissants, madeleines, various types of sliced bread, pastas and cakes. Each of these products has been tested by gluten-intolerant people, so this product line provides delicious gluten-free products that meet the needs of our customers. All gluten-free products are manufactured by brand-certified suppliers according to strict specifications.

INCREASING CUSTOMER AWARENESS

 

Clear and easily comparable information on products
At the forefront of nutritional labelling, in 2005 Carrefour developed a simple, readable way of labelling its products in collaboration with the consumer association CLCV (Confédération de la Consommation, du Logement et du Cadre de Vie).
The Group aims to provide clearer and more useful nutritional information to its customers, this is why at the end of 2008 it modified the labelling of packaging, including the addition of the GDAs (Guideline Daily Amounts) for all its brands. Used by several brands, this system allows customers to easily compare products. 
 
Increasing customer awareness, a major challenge
Several initiatives have been undertaken in stores to encourage customers and consumers to eat a balanced diet. An excellent example of this approach is Nutrition Week, which was launched by the Group in 2005. It is now held in all countries where Carrefour has a presence. Each year, Nutrition Week is used to inform the millions of customers of the need to eat a balanced diet.
The Group is also involved in national events, such as Taste Week (Semaine du goût) in France. As part of the 2010 edition, focusing on seasonal fruits, the Carrefour stores set up many activities: dramatisations, product tastings, especially Carrefour Quality Line products, cooking classes for children in neighbouring schools, etc.
Other promotional events give customers the opportunity to create balanced meals at a great price: Carrefour Argentina in 2009, for example, created the Carrefour Nutritional and Economic Menu, a product list and corresponding recipes designed to feed a family of four for two weeks.

COMMITTED TO THE PREVENTION OF POOR EATING HABITS

Carrefour is committed to various programmes aimed at promoting a varied diet and regular physical activity.
In Argentina, for example, Carrefour joined CONIN (a cooperative infant-nutrition foundation) to support an educational and nutritional programme aimed at preventing illness related to malnutrition in 2008. One of their objectives is to accompany mothers from underprivileged backgrounds in order to ensure their children are provided with the food necessary for healthy development.
In China, to combat anaemia, a disease that affects 15-20% of the population, Carrefour offers condiments fortified with iron, which are sold within the framework of an agreement with the Food Fortification Office.