BY UE STUDIO

Updated Friday,17March2023-10:32

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Food is a key factor for people's health and well-being. The type of diet has an impact on certain cardiovascular diseases and some types of diabetes, among other pathologies. However, despite its importance, the perception that "healthy food is more expensive" continues to be a determining factor when making the purchase, especially in vulnerable population groups, although it is not the only one, as shown by the study carried out by the University of Zaragoza in collaboration with Grupo Dia and the Red Cross.

Grupo Dia works so that all families have a balanced diet at their fingertips, with high quality food at affordable prices

The data from this study, published at the end of 2022 in the scientific journal Nutrients, point out the important psychological barrier in the perception and understanding of what healthy eating is and that education about nutritional aspects and other aspects of health care are fundamental to move towards a balanced diet. This is explained by Pilar Hermida, Chief Communication & Sustainability Officer, who highlights that this study "has helped us to better understand the reasons that hinder the choice of a balanced diet and has shown us the way to promote projects and actions aimed at combating the food gap".

Quality food within everyone's reach

This study prepared in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza and the Red Cross has allowed Dia to define the starting point of a program that connects with the heart of its business and with its purpose of being closer every day to offer great quality within everyone's reach: that all families can eat better every day, no matter where they live or their budget.

This great commitment, in addition, is a reflection of the way Dia operates in each neighborhood or city where the model of proximity and sustainability are key when it comes to having a real impact that, in turn, serves as an engine of change.

Dia opened its first store in Madrid in 1979. In its more than 40 years of history, the company has promoted the largest network of proximity stores in the country thanks to the talent of a large and diverse team that, only in Spain, is made up of more than 21,300 people in store, warehouse and offices, and to which is added the strength of its more than 1,000 franchisees and its almost 9,000 collaborators. with whom they share a passion for the customer and their commitment to people.

Eating better every day

Aware of its role as an essential service, the Dia team works with the commitment to provide tangible value through its 5,700 stores in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Portugal. And the best way to do this is by providing quality food at affordable prices within reach of any home. Dia takes on this challenge after making a profound redirection of its business and welcoming this new Dia: a solid company that places people at the center to make the experience and satisfaction of its customer first, and generate value in the communities in which it is present.

The company is aware that combining the proximity of its stores with its online sales channel, and a complete assortment of products at affordable prices, it becomes one of the best positioned in the market to ensure that healthy food reaches all homes.

The usual store for today's society

Dia is still that neighborhood store of yesteryear, but it has known how to walk hand in hand with society and adapt to new needs. Currently, they are establishments where you can make the purchase complete, fast and easy and with an assortment of fresh and local products that boost employment and ensure the sustainability of raw materials.

That is, it reduces, among other aspects, the impact of all processes on climate change or waste generation. With respect to 2020, the company has reduced food waste in Spain and Portugal by 7% and has eliminated about 5.5 million kilograms of virgin plastic from the packaging of its private label products. Finally, waste generation has also been minimized by more than 8,500 tons.

Quality products for empty Spain

More than 3.7 million people in Spain have difficulty buying and consuming fresh food and other products. Despite the efforts of the consumer goods sector and its commitment to the union of physical stores and online commerce, there is a long way to go. In this context, Dia partnered in 2021 with La Exclusiva, a social and commercial logistics network, and set out to combat the food gap from a socioeconomic point of view, but also geographical. Only in its first year of joint struggle, access to fresh and quality products was facilitated weekly to more than 7,000 families in municipalities without shops in the rural areas of Soria, one of the most depopulated in Spain. The objective of this alliance is to reach those isolated houses where the online channel is not yet a reality. In total, this project offers the possibility of accessing a balanced diet to the more than 15,000 residents of this region who live in municipalities without a tent and to the approximately 5,000 residents in what is considered a "food desert".

Made by UE Studio

This text has been developed by UE Studio, creative branded content and content marketing firm of Unidad Editorial, for DIA HIPERMERCADOS

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