As always, there have been movements in international retail alliances in Europe. This year saw quite a few changes, so here's a recap of how retailers have re-organized themselves in Europe. French trade magazine LSA distinguishes two types of alliances: Purchasing centres, to get better purchasing conditions from major brand manufacturers for the best-selling products. Service centres, to negotiate business plans, like promotions, or product placement, with manufacturers.
The current list of alliances, as it concerns Europe, is as follows:
Agecore: Colruyt, Coop, Conad, Eroski
Combined turnover: 64 billion€
Private label buying alliance
Aldi Nord and Süd
Combined turnover: 113 billion€
International buying alliance
AMS: Ahold Delhaize, Migros, Morrisons, ICA, Salling Group, Musgrave, Hagar, Kesko, Booker
Combined turnover: 128 billion€
Private label buying alliance
Auxo: Casino, Intermarché, Louis Delhaize
Combined turnover: 76 billion€
Buying alliance
Coopernic: Rewe, E. Leclerc, Ahold Delhaize, Coop
Combined turnover: 228 billion€
Service centre
EMD: Markant, Colruyt, Superunie, ESD Italia, Dagab, Euromadi, Dagrofa, Unil, etc
Combined turnover: 140 billion€
Service centre
Epic: Edeka, Picnic, Cooperative U, Jeronimo Martins, ICA, Migros, Esselunga, Jumbo
Combined turnover: 190 billion€
Service centre
Eureca: Carrefour for the six European countries in which it operates
Combined turnover: 67 billion€
International buying agency
Eurelec: Rewe, E. Leclerc, Ahold Delhaize
Combined turnover: 212 billion€
International buying alliance
Everest: Edeka, Picnic, Cooperative U, Jumbo
Combined turnover: 107 billion€
Buying alliance
Lidl Schwarz for the countries in which it is present
Combined turnover: 144 billion€
International buying alliance
U2A: Auchan for nine European countries where it operates
Combined turnover: 30 billion€
International buying alliance
While national and EU watchdogs are closely following the latest moves in retail alliances, price differences of major A-brands between European countries as well as inflation seem to accelerate the need for alliances.