IFA Group: this is how it has become one of the emblems of food distribution in Spain an agent of social change

BY UE STUDIO

Updated Monday,10April2023-12:59

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In Spain, the trade and distribution sector is one of the economic pillars of the country and its impact on GDP and society as a whole is fundamental. In recent years, one of the great challenges that the sector has faced is to respond to the growing concern of the population as a whole for the global environment, as well as the development of sustainable processes in all its dimensions: energy efficiency, the use of renewable energies, the commitment to raw materials of the highest quality, fresh and local products, care for people who are part of the sector, equal opportunities, the generation of wealth and employment in the environment, solidarity social initiatives or the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits to improve the health and well-being of the population.

This commitment is reflected in the alignment of this "strategic ecosystem" of food distribution – as defined by the European Commission – with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda, which have become the perfect tool to develop the processes that allow sustainability to become a tangible reality in companies. This commitment, together with the adoption of ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria, whose objective is to carry out different actions that develop corporate responsibility and sustainability in the company, allows companies to establish a defined strategy committed to the future of the planet.

An example in Spain is the IFA Group, which has established itself in recent years as a reference in the sector. Through its 33 associated companies, among which are the main regional chains such as Ahorramas, Alimerka or Condis, it reaches 82% of the Spanish population. One in four establishments associated with the IFA Group is located in municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants and its contribution to GDP amounts to more than 10,756 million euros, equivalent to 1% of national GDP. In total, it generates employment for more than 137,700 people.

With these figures and with the aim of becoming the best distribution group in Spain constituted by Associates, the IFA Group's commitment to sustainability translates into a search for excellence, betting decisively on innovation throughout the value chain. According to Juan Manuel Morales, CEO of the company and president of EuroCommerce, "our commitment and vocation is to serve society by being a true agent of change in a fundamental sector for the Spanish economy and society such as distribution".

For this commitment to be translated into concrete measures, it is necessary to establish an appropriate strategy and bet decisively on promoting collaboration agreements that generate real added value in society. The IFA Group works on "three levers of action": the food distribution activity itself, social action and collaboration in non-profit initiatives. All this is framed in the search for sustainability and the acquisition of the commitment to achieve the adoption of 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. And, specifically, contributing to the achievement of 28 goals set by the United Nations for the 2030 horizon.

With regard to environmental protection, the IFA Group has been making a great effort to provide solutions that contribute to the fight against climate change. In recent years, specific initiatives have been carried out such as the transition of fleets of vehicles powered by fossil fuels by hybrid and electric vehicles, the replacement of the lighting of establishments with more efficient LED bulbs, the use of doors in the cold murals, with the aim of maintaining the temperature as long as possible or the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of the establishments. In this way, ambitious goals have been successfully met, such as the reduction of 26% reduction in carbon emissions or the use of 23% of energy from renewable sources, with an increase of 15% over the previous year.

But the commitment to sustainability does not stop here. Another of the main objectives is the generation of wealth and promotion of employment and the improvement of the lives of people in the closest environment. In the IFA Group there is a commitment to quality raw materials, as Juan Manuel Morales explains. "We work with the best suppliers and fresh products prevail in our establishments, guaranteeing a raw material of the highest quality". For example, being present in the best fish markets to find the freshest fish, establishing relationships with the most prestigious farmers in each region in which they operate or acquiring the freshest fruits and vegetables in local markets, based on the highest quality standards. In this way and thanks to its proximity model, it contributes to structuring the national territory and generating employment and economic value in areas where other operators do not reach. This in turn results in special attention to the most depopulated areas and smaller municipalities of the Spanish geography, thus facilitating people's lives.

The search for excellence in the IFA Group and its alignment with the SDGs also translates into the implementation of social initiatives that go beyond the direct and indirect generation of economic value. In total, a total of 11 million euros have been allocated to contribute to the development of society, through collaborations with entities linked to social action, the conservation of protected species, as well as initiatives for the conservation of biodiversity and natural capital. And, of course, the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits through sponsorships or agreements. An example is the collaboration between the IFA Group and the Gasol Foundation, through which prevention and awareness actions have been launched to address one of the most serious problems affecting child and family health.

Thanks to all this work in the social field carried out by the IFA Group, it has been possible to carry out initiatives such as the collection and donation of food and personal hygiene and cleaning material to non-profit entities and foundations. Solidarity rounding has been established for the benefit of social causes, additional bonuses in gratitude for tasks carried out by health workers during the pandemic through agreements with hospitals or the implementation of a free transport and food preparation service to associations that provide food to families with few resources.

The IFA Group's business model has enabled the transformation of the purchasing centre into a true distribution group that jointly manages to provide more value through collaboration between partners, suppliers and allies. In this way, in addition to contributing economically to the improvement of the environment, it functions as a social agent and driver of change.

The path to the future of Grupo IFA is marked by its commitment to people, quality, closeness and trust, building positively for the new generations.

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