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Independent Retail Europe (formerly UGAL - Union of Groups of Independent Retailers of Europe)

General Information

Identification Code: 034546859-02
Website: [object Object]
Entity Form: a.i.s.b.l. - Association internationale sans but lucratif
Registration Category: Trade and business associations
Registration Date: 6/25/2008
Last Update: 5/15/2024
EP Accredited Number: 4

Mission & Interests

Goals: Established in 1963, Independent Retail Europe is the European trade association of groups of independent retailers in all food & non-food sectors. The organisation represents retail groups characterised by joint purchasing of goods and services to attain efficiencies and economies of scale, a support network to independent SME retail entrepreneurs, as well as respect for the independent character of the individual retailer. Most groups operate under 1 brand. The majority of our groups have a cooperative or similar format whereby – different from franchises – the retailers are the main shareholders & play a major role in the group’s activities and strategy, whilst remaining fully independent retailers. Groups of independent retailers constitute a large part of the retail market, as much as 30% in certain Western European countries. Members are groups of independent retailers & national associations thereof as well as other types of organisations set up to support independent retailers.
Interests Represented: Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Interests:
  • Agriculture and rural development
  • Business and industry
  • Climate action
  • Competition
  • Consumers
  • Digital economy and society
  • Economy, finance and the euro
  • Employment and social affairs
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Food safety
  • Institutional affairs
  • Regional policy
  • Single market
  • Taxation
  • Trade
  • Transport
  • Youth
Levels of Interest:
  • european
  • national

Activities

Main EU Legislative Proposals: Due to their structure – a supporting group and individual SME member retailers – legislation can affect groups of independent retailers differently than integrated business models. To ensure that both the wholesale groups and their hundreds of thousands of independent retailer members can remain competitive in the on- and offline market, we ensure that EU policy and legislation do not constitute a disproportionate or unnecessary burden for this business model. COMPETITION RULES – The central (wholesale) organisations of the groups act at a different economic level of the chain than their SME member retailers, vertical agreements between these organisations and their retailers are indispensable to their functioning. These agreements concern e.g. information exchange, joint purchasing & commercialisation and standardisation. Their pro-competitive effects benefit consumers. On a horizontal level, the retailers are independent entrepreneurs and competitors in the same catchment area. Due to this, agreements in groups of independent retailers are subject to the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation and Guidelines, and the Guidelines on Horizontal Agreements. This has a disproportionate negative impact on their competitiveness, particularly in a digital market, in comparison to their main competitors, integrated retail chains, whose internal activities are not limited by these rules. We seek a fairer treatment of group structures under competition rules to heighten competition and consumer benefit. Issues: VBER, the VGL & HGL, single-price platforms, selective distribution, dual distribution, dual pricing, joint purchasing, alliances, territorial supply constraints, market definition, DMA… DIGITAL AND SINGLE MARKET STRATEGY – Our members are multi-channel retailers. We seek to ensure that EU policy respects a level playing field for all retail channels and that our groups can efficiently operate on- and offline, and are able to compete on fair terms. Due to their business model, the websites of groups of independent retailers are by nature platforms. These closed platforms of EU-based member retailers present no more risk to consumers than their brick and mortar stores. Issues: Single Market Act, DMA, product liability, consumer protection online, payment systems, digital Euro, VAT, cybersecurity, AI… SUSTAINABILITY –Sustainability legislation needs to be practicable, effective and efficient. Sustainability has a cost; any unnecessary and disproportionate burdens and costs should be avoided. Where possible, burdens should be borne at group level of our businesses, in line with the logic of their cooperative business model. Issues: due diligence, non-financial reporting, circular economy, Farm to Fork Strategy, energy efficiency, eco & energy labelling, waste (food waste, PPWR, EPR)… INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY/RETAIL ECOSYSTEM – Groups of independent retailers constitute a large part of the retail market, as much as 30% in certain Western European countries. We seek to ensure that the strategy benefits and reflects the needs of groups of independent retailers and consumers. Issues: recovery and digital & sustainable transition, diverse retail market, healthy cities & rural areas, SME strategy, SME financing, entrepreneurship, skills & jobs, B2B trading practices, supply chain transparency… CONSUMER PROTECTION – Our members are committed to ensuring consumer protection and health. This is essential for their close relationships with customers and their reputation. We seek clear, understandable rules that can be easily implemented and do not constitute unnecessary burdens on SME retailers. Issues: product safety & liability, labelling (ecolabelling, energy labelling, NutriScore, green claims…), healthy food, packaging, consumer contracts, right to repair…
Communication Activities: Independent Retail Europe frequently comments on policy issues on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-retail-europe) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/inderetaileu). Our website https://IndependentRetailEurope.eu/en contains a selection of our position papers. For positions on other issues, please contact us. We organise interactive events with stakeholders and policy makers entitled “Independent Retail Europe Policy Platform”, bringing together policy makers and independent retailers and their groups to exchange on specific policy issues of concern and interest. We organise, together with other European retail associations, the European Retail Day.
EU Supported Forums and Platforms: Expert Group on B2B data sharing and cloud computing contracts / Sub-group - stakeholders#E03840/1#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=103092 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsExpert Group EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory#E03949#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3949 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsAdvisory Group on Sustainability of Food Systems#E03832#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3832 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsExpert Group on the European Food Security Crisis Preparedness and Response Mechanism#E03829#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3829 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsAnimal Health Advisory Comittee#E03832/1#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=103292 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsEU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste#E03421#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3421 #MEMBER #C#Other#SMEsConsumer Policy Advisory Group#E03750#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3750 #MEMBER #C#SMEsWorking Group on Plant Health#E03832/2#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=103432 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsConsumer food waste prevention sub-group#E03421/5#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=102312 #MEMBER #C#Other#SMEsDate marking and food waste prevention sub-group#E03421/4#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=100597 #MEMBER #C#Other#SMEsWorking Group on Seeds and Propagating Material#E03832/3#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=103433 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEsEcodesign and Energy Labelling Consultation Forum#X03609#https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=3609 #MEMBER #C#Industry#SMEs
Inter-institutional or Unofficial Groupings: N/A

Head Office

Address: Rue Archimède 5 boîte 3
Post Code: 1000
City: Bruxelles
Country: BELGIUM
Phone: [object Object]

EU Office

Address: Rue Archimède 5 boîte 3
Post Code: 1000
City: Bruxelles
Country: BELGIUM
Phone: [object Object]

Financial Data

New Organisation: false
Closed Year: [object Object]
Current Year: [object Object]

Membership Information

Members10 Percent: 0
Members25 Percent: 0
Members50 Percent: 0
Members75 Percent: 0
Members: 6
Members F T E: 6

Structure

Structure Type: Structure
Is Member Of: See https://independentretaileurope.eu/en/membership
Organisation Members: Liaison committee of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Business and Marketing Practices in the Food Supply Chain