Category: news

Enough is enough! I am devastated to see disturbing images like this. The dark side of consumerism is now manifested in the greatest extinction ever. As consumers we should demote single-use packaging. And as professionals in retail or industry, we should advocate for healthier and sustainable solutions. What are the best practices you know or have around? How do you personally contribute to your children’s future? Can we literally go for zero waste? Should our governments overtax plastic as nicotine or sugary drinks to demote consumption? If you have rapturous ideas, talk to me. I’m looking for ways to go above and beyond conventional wisdom.

Finally happy to settle back home after three months of back-to-back kick-off sessions, meeting great people, seing great changes in the world’s leading FMCG retail companies.

Here are some thoughts to summarize what I’ve seen, heard and shared from Lisbon to Shanghai:

– brick&mortar is not dead. It changes, like you and me, we change. Some get old, some die, some get born. Normal, never-ending process. Organised retail is only 60 years old and it follows customers like no other sector.

– big box is not dead. Hypermarket is the most product-to-consumer efficient model. People love surprises, we love gratification. More fun, more quality engagement with shoppers will be the next global trend. Spending time off mobile is great!

– every single country has its own rules of the game. There are no two identical countries, not even identical markets. French trends don’t mean much in Spain and China is a world of its own.

– finally, I have seen lots of great examples of how Auchan changes. Scores of local initiatives in different departments to make shopping convenient, attractive, seamless and fun. Whether it’s flying baskets or queueless check-outs or virtual advisors, I have seen passion and affection to customer.

We can only win when we put customer first, close to the heart.

Let 2019 negotiation campaign begin!

(Thank you, L’Oréal for the inspirational message :))

Reading “Start with Why” I came to this brilliant quote from Herb Kelleher, creator of the Southwest, one of the world’s most successful budget airlines.

Shipping 100mln orders in less then 3 days required unprecedented automation and ingenuity. Bravo Alibaba!