Organized by Réseau Vrac & Reuse, the RVR Trophies ceremony highlighted, at the end of last year, seven winners who are advancing the packaging industry. Among them, Just What I Need ! was crowned in the “equipment for bulk sales” category. A recognition that marks the transition from innovation to action, with a first test in an E.Leclerc hypermarket in partnership with Méo cafés.
Current bulk systems, with weighing which is carried out after having served, do not allow you to choose the right quantity, while this is the number one expectation of bulk consumers. Furthermore, this sale is mainly carried out in disposable bags which do not offer visibility to the brands. This is one of the reasons why bulk is struggling to take off, with a market share of less than 1% on grocery products sold in large retailers. Requiring food stores of more than 400 m2 to carry out at least 20% of their activity on bulk sales by 2030, the Climate and Resilience law therefore represents a considerable challenge.
A solution for everyone
JuWIN has developed a solution combining a bulk offer with the reuse of a branded container : the consumer chooses precisely the quantity of product he wants, ergonomically and hygienically, in a reusable container that is convenient to store at home. During the qualitative pretest carried out in October 2023 by 60 people, the consumer experience has been described as “fast, precise and playful”. For brands, JuWIN ensures flawless hygiene and conservation, visibility of the brand as well as product information on the shelves and all the way to the consumer's home. Traceability is comparable to that of products sold packaged. For distributors, it’s a simplified respect for hygiene, increased safety as well as easier handling also thanks to digitized radius tracking.
“Bulk and reuse must not remain concepts”
The first full-scale test started on March 17 at the E.Leclerc hypermarket in Templeuve. (Nord), whose member Thomas Pocher has long been committed to CSR and against food waste. Méo cafes (grain and ground) are sold in a reusable container bearing the brand’s image. Reimbursement of the deposit (0,50 €) is done at the store reception. “Bulk and reuse must not remain at the concept stage : they must develop through a simple solution compatible with the daily life of a hypermarket. This is precisely what we want to achieve with the JuWIN solution, to give it the best chance of succeeding.", declares Thomas Pocher. The JuWIN solution was developed thanks to funding from the eco-organization in charge of packaging Citeo and the advice of its teams as part of its call for projects “Even more reuse”.
