'Collaboration is crucial,' say ECR Europe leaders

Collaboration between suppliers and retailers and working on implementing ECR initiatives both in regional and national levels are key elements to meet future challenges. ECR Europe Co-Chairs Dr. Hans-Joachim Korber and Anthony Ruys also said ECR Europe has now reached sufficient maturity that will enable the group to support the goals of its members.

Saying that there is still some work to be done, both Korber and Ruys said ECR Europe now has a stronger governance structure that will help re-align the various ECR activities across Europe. “We are seeing improved alignment of ECR activities across Europe,” said Korber as he noted that initiatives should focus on innovation and human resource development. Korber and Ruys spoke on the second day of the 11th ECR Europe Conference in Stockholm, Sweden where 2,300 retail executives and professionals from 45 countries are gathered to discuss the latest industry trends and initiaves.

Conceding that the aggressive expansion of deep discounters are encroaching on the market share of full-service supermarkets, Korber said ECR initiatives become all the more relevant in providing the tools that will enable its members to meet head-on the challenges ahead. “Europe’s retailers and manufacturers have a tough and challenging agenda…You could just imagine what we would have not achieve if we didn’t have these (ECR) initiatives,” said Korber.