We look at how Auchan is expanding its online offer in Romania and Ukraine.

Romania signs deal with Uber Eats…

Auchan Romania has partnered with Uber Eats to supply a special range of restaurant products. The range has been created by chefs Marin Sabau and Sorin Barbu. The range includes 25 traditional Romanian and international dishes.

Customers can order the products through the Uber Eats app for delivery. Alternatively, they can order via lamasa.auchan.ro and collect them in-store in 30 minutes. The first store partnered with the platform is Auchan Cotroceni. Auchan hopes to extend the offer to all Bucharest stores in Uber Eats’ coverage area, although without giving a timeframe.

Auchan Romania’s client and innovation manager, Tiberiu Daneiu, commented, “We want to do more for our customers in terms of range, service and experience, and we’ve decided to bring Auchan to a new level by associating with world leaders in fast delivery to become the best in the field of quality cuisine and accessibility”.

…and expands its ecommerce offer

Separately, Auchan Romania expanded the range made available through its online site. The retailer offers over 5,000 SKUs, ranging from electronic products to toys and cosmetics. Home delivery is not available and so orders are only fulfilled through Auchan’s click & collect service at all its 33 stores. Shoppers can collect orders within two hours of buying them online.

Ukraine introduces home delivery

Meanwhile in Ukraine, Auchan has introduced a home delivery service for online orders. The deliveries will be carried out by New Mail. Home delivery will only be available in Kiev initially, but the retailer hopes to extend the service to other regions soon.

Following a trial in Vietnam, Auchan is launching blockchain traceability for fresh meat and produce in France with German start-up, Te-Food.

Successful trial

The 2017 trial saw Auchan use Te-Food’s food blockchain solution, FoodChain in Vietnam to ensure the traceability of 18,000 pigs, 200,000 chickens and 2.5 million eggs. The project will shortly expand to include aubergines, mangoes and durian fruit.

Ensuring traceability throughout the supply chain

Auchan has already successfully rolled out FoodChain traceability for its organic carrots. The retailer’s organic carrots are now packed in RFID-enabled crates, with QR codes printed on all packaging. This enables the products’ traceability throughout the supply chain and is also accessible by consumers.

Expanding the solution

The solution will be applied to potatoes in December 2018, with chicken following suit in February 2019. Auchan and Te-Food are also preparing to launch blockchain traceability for Italian tomatoes, Iberian pork, exotic fruit from Spain and chicken from Portugal and Senegal.