**Romania**: The recent ‘Taste the Future 2025 – Agri Food & Retail Summit’ explored critical issues like food pricing and support for local producers, featuring insights from Tiberiu Dănețiu on collaboration with local farms and the importance of ‘ultra-local’ sourcing to enhance consumer access to fresh products.
The National Conference “Taste the Future 2025 – Agri Food & Retail Summit” recently took place, bringing together a diverse group of participants, including government officials, agricultural leaders, retailers, researchers, and industry experts. The focus of the summit revolved around critical topics such as food pricing, enhancing support for local agricultural producers, and expanding their access to retail markets, particularly in large stores.
Tiberiu Dănețiu, who serves as a board member and director of institutional relations & Retail Media at a prominent hypermarket chain in Romania, delivered insights on the importance of collaboration with local producers. He stated, “For over 18 years, we have been building sustainable partnerships with Romanian producers. Over 90% of the food products we sell come from companies in Romania. We support local agri-food development seriously and sustainably.”
Dănețiu explained that the hypermarket chain collaborates with more than 50 local producers, resulting in the joint development of over 80 product lines. The variety includes seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as processed foods, many of which are now available in the cities where they are produced.
Also highlighted at the conference was the crucial role of “ultra-local” sourcing. Dănețiu elaborated, “The producer from Brașov delivers to the store in Brașov, and the one from Sibiu to Sibiu. At the same time, we are developing national partnerships with medium and large producers.” This approach underscores a commitment to not just local, but regionally tailored, supply chain practices that benefit both producers and consumers.
To further facilitate the integration of small farmers into the distribution chain, the hypermarket has implemented simplified procedures designed to expedite access to retail spaces. Dănețiu noted, “We have grown together. For small producers, we have a simplified process that allows them to quickly reach the shelves of local stores. For others, we run multi-year programs that help them develop sustainably.”
An example cited by Dănețiu is the availability of Romanian seasonal products, predominantly seen during the summer months. These offerings include tomatoes, fruits, and various vegetables, which are sourced directly from local farms and made readily available in supermarkets, thereby enhancing the connection between consumers and local agricultural production.
The conference underscored the collaborative efforts aimed at bolstering local agriculture, with a strong emphasis on sustaining partnerships that benefit both producers and retailers while addressing consumer needs.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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