Colruyt Group, Superunie (The Netherlands) and Coop Group (Switzerland) have joined forces to establish a new international buying alliance for purchasing leading multinational brands: Vasco International Trading B.V. This independent company aims to enhance the purchasing effectiveness of its shareholders to re-establish a level playing field to secure competitive terms and conditions from FMCG goods from international A-brand suppliers. Vasco International Trading permits its shareholders to compete more effectively with internationally organised competitors, from which ultimately, shareholder's customers will benefit.
Vasco International Trading is a newly established independent European buying alliance, created to enhance the purchasing power of its founding organizations, their affiliates and their respective businesses. In concrete terms, this means that Vasco International Trading, as an independent company, will have the mandate to – as a single point of contact – pursue specific negotiations such as prices and conditions with international suppliers, consistently adhere to the guidelines and directives established by the partners. Vasco International Trading enables its shareholders to operate more effectively and establish themselves in an ever-evolving international procurement market.
Geert Roels, Chief Purchasing Officer at Colruyt Group: “As Colruyt Group, we are very proud to be the only genuine Belgian retailer and the local leader, and of the good relationship we have with most of our suppliers. Internationally, we are a rather small player that stands ground in a challenging and ever-evolving market. Being part of this international buying alliance will at the same time safeguard our competitive position in Belgium and will be an extra leverage to continue our «lowest prices» promise to our customers in our Colruyt Lowest Prices stores. We are very much looking forward to our collaboration with Coop Group and Superunie, two partners with whom we share important values.”
Through Vasco International Trading collective purchasing strength, competitive prices and conditions can be negotiated with multinational suppliers of leading brands, ultimately resulting in benefits for consumers. Vasco International Trading executes extensive market analysis of products, trends and prices to gain efficiency in the negotiation process and to find synergies between partners, from a true bridge-builder approach. This will strengthen the competitive position of the shareholders in their home markets and is at the same time an appropriate answer to developments like the internationalization in the global procurement market.
As an independent company Vasco International Trading has access to data and analyses that support effective cooperation with suppliers who are also organized on an international level. Vasco International Trading B.V. will be based in the Netherlands, Amsterdam. In the coming months the company will finalize the set-up of its operations. Negotiations with the first suppliers will start in autumn 2025.
Boudewijn van den Brand, CEO Superunie: "With our participation in this new purchasing alliance, we have the opportunity to strengthen the competitive position of our members in the Dutch market by working closely with retailers who have a strong position in their home markets. Our ultimate goal is to offer consumers in the Netherlands better prices. We look forward to constructive cooperation with suppliers and with Colruyt Group and Coop Group, two valued partners with whom we share the same DNA."
Andrea Kramer, Head of Marketing / Purchasing Business Unit Coop Group: "As a smaller European player, it was important for us to find partners that share the same values, plans and ambitions as we do. We are delighted to join forces with Superunie and Colruyt Group in our own buying alliance and we are convinced that Vasco will be a relevant strength in staying competitive in the market."
