The packing guide 2024 1
ECR (Efficient Consumer Response) Europe was foun
ded in the late 1990s. Its background was the new discoveries in the field of product supply demonstrating that FMCG retailers and suppliers could meet consumer needs better, faster and more efficiently by co-operating on common, competition-neutral industry issues. Additional factors that contributed to the ECR movement gaining momentum were improvements in information technology, increasing competition, globalisation and the new larger European market, which made it possible to move goods and services more easily across national borders. Meanwhile, consumer demand developed and began to focus on more factors than before, such as wider selection, better availability, increased quality and improved product safety. All of these factors led to a fundamental change in industry practices. The traditional division between suppliers on the one side and retailers on the other changed. ECR has contributed, and continues to contribute, to removing unnecessary costs in the supply chain. This increases the benefits for consumers. The effects on the industry have been considerable, and the ECR working method continues to yield positive results. ECR is about creating a holistic view of the entire value chain throughout the product path from suppliers, producers and retailers to the consumer. Generating benefits for the consumer is the guiding principle of ECR. All its work is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the flow of goods and information and adding value for the consumer. ECR Sweden is managed in project form, with the organisation divided into three groups: • Retail Demand, which focuses on the sales side, for example through training and time slots for product revisions. • Retail Supply, which strives to improve and streamline logistics flows. • Food Service, which streamlines restaurant and wholesale collaboration. The mission and objectives of ECR Sweden are: • To spread awareness about ECR to those involved in the Swedish FMCG industry. • To provide a competition-neutral platform for dialogue and collaboration with consumer benefit as the primary objective. • To take the initiative and participate in business activities in ECR regions and to conduct investigations and projects when competition-neutral conditions exist. • To conduct training courses under the name pf the ECR Academy for different levels of companies in the industry. ECR Europe was established in 1994. Two years later, ECR Sweden was established by DLF Dagligvaruleverantörerna (FMCG Manufacturers of Sweden) and SvDH Svensk Dagligvaruhandel (Swedish Food Retailers Federation). For more information, see www.ecr.se and www.ecr-community.org/ FMCG Manufacturers of Sweden (DLF) Swedish FMCG Trade Federation (SvDH) DLF, the FMCG Manufacturers of Sweden, is a trade association for companies that sell FMCG goods to the retail sector, restaurants and industrial catering in Sweden. DLF and its subsidiary DLF Service AB create the right conditions for an efficient, innovative and sustainable FMCG industry by providing business-relevant knowledge, offering inspiring and stimulating meeting places as well as running and developing efficient industry companies. https://www.dlf.se/english The Swedish Food Retailers Federation is a trade organisation for FMCG retailers in Sweden. Member companies include Axfood AB, City Gross Sverige AB, Coop Sverige AB, ICA Sverige AB, Lidl Sverige KB and Livsmedelshandlarna. The FMCG trade is an important part of the entire FMCG chain and the Swedish Food Retailers Federation ensures the industry takes active and shared responsibility for competition-neutral issues. The Swedish Food Retailers Federation, together with primarily DLF Dagligvaruleverantörerna (FMCG Manufacturers of Sweden), owns a number of companies tasked with streamlining processes in the FMCG industry. It is also a way for the industry to take responsibility for the recycling of packaging materials as well as food safety through increased traceability. www.svdh.se 3