Les Mousquetaires: mass retailing trading names Logimarché Stationmarché Restaumarché


	Purchasing and partnership policy

An organisation of categories and departments

As part of their purchasing policy, Les Mousquetaires have set up an organisation of categories and departments which enables them to analyse and develop a thorough knowledge of each sector, from production to sale, allowing them to buy at the best terms. Les Mousquetaires have therefore set up purchasing offices in the regions which supply products from local producers.


	An example in the fruit and vegetable department:

The buyers are based in 7 purchasing offices located throughout the French production areas.

This proximity allows them:
to gain a thorough knowledge of the growers and their products,
to be responsive to new products on the market,
and to respond to the requirements of customers.

Half a million tonnes of fruit and vegetables are bought in France using this method.

Partnerships

A Mousquetaires' partnership is based on the concept of trust and sincerity: it guarantees partners long-term development and outlets for their produce (continuity of their business and security); and, for Les Mousquetaires, it guarantees quality supplies. These are always long-term partnerships.


	An example of a partnership with pig farmers:

ARCA is a group of French pig farming co-operatives. The co-operatives themselves consist of groups of pig farmers. To be able to offer pork products of a consistently high quality to our consumers, Les Mousquetaires has entered into a long-term partnership with ARCA. With this partnership, Les Mousquetaires are not committed to a single producer, but to more than 1,600 . Today, thanks to this partnership, 1.5 million pigs are purchased every year.


	An example of a partnership in the cattle and sheep farming industries:

Les Mousquetaires have had a partnership with the SVA Jean Rozé abattoir for 25 years. As a result of this partnership, SVA Jean Rozé is committed to thousands of beef and lamb producers through marketing contracts guaranteeing to consumers that produce is of French origin. It handles 1,000 cattle every day. Les Mousquetaires are therefore working in indirect partnership with tens of thousands of producers. So whole regions benefit from the effects of this partnership.


	An example of a partnership with a family-run regional SME:

This is the story of a partnership which won a prize in Paris in 2002: the Gré d'Or d'Espoir or Golden Award of Hope, a prize for a fair and equitable partnership between a retailer and an SME awarded by FEEF, the French Entreprises and Entrepreneurs Federation. The three Jan brothers decided to develop the cider making business which their father, formerly a pharmacist, had started as a hobby in 1990. By 1996, they were already farming a 30 hectare orchard. In 2000, after incorporating the business, the Jan brothers began to look for outlets other than Breton crêperies and corner shops in order to increase volumes and expand the operation. So they began looking at retailing. At the same time, Les Mousquetaires were looking for a supplier of farm-produced cider. Bringing local products and skills to the attention of the public is also an aim of Les Mousquetaires. They therefore gave the brothers the possibility of having a marketing, development and logistics unit ... And above all, the opportunity to gain access to the whole French market. Out of this partnership was born the brand name "The Jan brothers - Breton farm cider".

Today, we are proud to announce that we have more than 5,000 partnerships at local level with growers, livestock farmers and SMEs, and more than 1,200 agreements at national level.