The cart of the expense it is no longer what it used to be. It is not only changing what ends up in us (less carbonated soft drinks, pasta and oil, more eggs, fruit and vegetables and sandwiches) but also what's behind and inside the products. Even those sold under the brands of chains distribution, which is now close to 19% of sales. In practice, almost one out of five purchases made in modern distribution carries the distributor's brand. And there are chains with even better results. Such as Despar, which sold over 289 million products last year 16 lines that "signs" (from Veggie to the products of the Step by Step supply chain, to the Premium line that collects the typical Italian excellences). A assortment wide (over 3 thousand different products), which not only comes constantly expanded (last year, for example, 251 new products were launched) but it is continuously revised to make products healthier and more sustainable. This year, in fact, there will be around 600 Despar products to come "revised"In a perspective of attention to wellness nutritional and environmental protection. Let's see how.

Less salt, fat and sugar in the products
It is from 2017 that Despar collaborates with the University of Parma, to improve the nutritional characteristics of its products. THE nutritionists Academics have analyzed about 300 Despar brand products (from biscuits to fruit juices, from yoghurts to crackers, from salty snacks to snacks) to understand how to reduce saturated fat, sugars and salt, and how to increase the fiber and nutrient content "beneficial"Without penalizing the taste, consistency and" duration "of the products. A job that has already paid off: in a couple of years they have already been "riformulti"350 products, and another 500 will be this year. And by 2020 all the nine productsfamilies"Identified will have been reviewed and improved with a view to correct nutrition. In parallel, Despar has expanded its product offering biological, healthy and rich in beneficial ingredients. Among the latest innovations are light stracchino, soy crackers (without palm oil), aloe vera juice and the roots of ginger biological.

More ecological packaging (and zero microplastics)
Another important and complicated "building site"On which Despar has been working for years is that of the environmental sustainability of its products. In addition to increasing the supply of organic products and obtained more "ecological”(For example by 2021 all Despar products will be free of microplastics) and attentive to animal welfare (such as eggs from free-range hens and tuna from rod-caught specimens), much has been done to reduce the environmental impact of the packaging. Such as? Inserting resealable (and therefore anti-waste) and recyclable packs. And introducing materials echo–sustainable. Like the 100% compostable packaging for some products fruit and vegetables (such as garlic, onions and organic salads in bags) brand Step by Step Despar and for peas, spinach and minestrone of the line Choice Organic Green, Logical Despar. And, in a few weeks, the first line of biodegradable and disposable products will also be on sale biocompostabili.

Manuela Soressi
May 2019