One after another two news stories appeared on my screen:
- Le Monde tells us, "On Thursday, July 2, a national network is to be launched, ecomiam.com, an initiative of the Breton poultry vendors, Tilly-Sabco, and its group of farmers, producers from the Arrée mountain region. Tested in Brest since April in the form of a sale held two mornings every month in a private car park, the system will be expanded throughout France and will offer, in addition to frozen chicken, pork and authentic minced Charolais steak.
Within a period of eighteen months, 180 cities will be served through refrigerated trucks. In Brest, seven tons of chickens were sold at each sale". The Tilly-Sabco group, specializing in the export of chickens to overseas markets, relies on a network of local producers (Monts d'Arrée / Prestor Cecab / Cialyn) and launched the "Ecomiam.com" brand offering quality meat with guaranteed low prices (the margin structure is displayed on the website). The sale takes place in refrigerated trucks and orders can be taken over the internet.Téléchargement Dossier presse ecomiam - Springwise tells us that a new Internet site alice.com is offering U.S. consumers 6,000 references in home products (detergents, hygiene - beauty, etc.) at rates which are 20% to 30% less than usual retail prices. This site works in fact like a "market place" where brands can sell directly to consumers - and thereby establish direct customer relationships, without needing the intermediary of the distributor.
Such examples will multiply. They are consistent with a number of consumer "mega-trends" that I regularly mention on BrandWatch:
- A hunt for the lowest prices.
- The direct contact between producer and consumer.
- Being able to identify the origin of a product (especially food).
- Easy access ...
