Drago nam je primijetiti da se u proteklih godinu dana ponuda veganskih proizvoda iz linije SPAR Veggie proširila. Možete li nam nešto reći o novim veganskim proizvodima koje ste uveli na hrvatsko tržište?
Zajedno s kolegama iz koncerna pomno pratimo trendove i potrebe tržišta. Trudimo se kontinuirano širiti ponudu, a u zadnje vrijeme smo u našu ponudu uveli i BIO proizvode koji zadovoljavaju veganske standarde kao što su Natur*pur rižin sirup, Natur*pur kokosovo ulje i sl. Naši kupci koji su vegani zlatan su nam izvor informacija. Imamo i sreću da su vrlo komunikativni, jako su aktivni na društvenim mrežama, tako da je protok informacija o novim proizvodima na tržištu vrlo brz.
Prije godinu dana, našim vjernim kupcima ponudili smo 10-ak gotovih jela artikala nove linije Veggie by Neni.
Naravno da su nam proizvodi naše robne marke Veggie najvažniji u segmentu veganske i vegetarijanske prehrane, tako da smo asortiman proširili sa još 10-ak novih artikala: gumeni bomboni, sladoledi, razne vrste napitaka od soje, deserti s rižom i dr.
Koje veganske proizvode vaših brendova VeggieSpar i NaturPur najbolje prihvaćaju hrvatski potrošači?
Veganski proizvodi imaju svoje postojane, vjerne kupce i slobodno bismo mogli reći da se sve podjednako dobro prodaje. Broj vegana u Hrvatskoj postupno se povećava, ali od broja važnija je njihova odanost Veggie proizvodima.
Zanimljivo je da recimo Veggie namaze ne kupuju samo vegani. Dapače, oni se doista dobro prodaju, a mislim da ih ljudi kupuju jer su ukusni i mnogi čak nisu niti svjesni da su to veganski proizvodi.
Koliko se veganska ponuda u trgovinama SPAR-a u Hrvatskoj razlikuje od veganske ponude u susjednim zemljama i što biste putnicima preporučili da degustiraju u inozemstvu?
Vegana u Hrvatskoj ipak ima znatno manje nego recimo u Austriji. Prema nekim podacima, u Hrvatskoj ima 3,7%, odnosno više od 160.000 ljudi, koji su iz svoje prehrane izbacili meso i sve ostale namirnice životinjskoga porijekla. Čak 38% svjetske populacije su vegani i vegetarijanci, ali recimo u susjednoj Austriji ih ima oko 9%. Naravno da je njihov asortiman time bitno veći. Nama su najvažnije informacije koje dobivamo od naših prijatelja vegana koji putuju po svijetu i otkrivaju neke nove, interesantne proizvode.
SPAR je već treću godinu zaredom generalni sponzor ZeGeVege festivala. Možete li se nakratko osvrnuti na prošlogodišnja iskustva?
Ovaj festival nam je dvostruko važan. Kao prvo, u regiji ne postoji niti jedan drugi festival ili događanje gdje biste bili u direktnijem kontaktu s kupcima kojima su ovi proizvodi namijenjeni. To je odlična prilika za promociju naših proizvoda. Posjetitelji postavljaju konkretna pitanja, a mi možemo sa zadovoljstvom odgovoriti na sva njihova pitanja.
S druge pak strane, i od njih dobivamo direktnu povratnu informaciju, od toga koji su naši proizvodi dobri, što nam nedostaje u asortimanu ili prijedlog za nabavku nekih određenih proizvoda.
I na kraju, naravno da moramo spomenuti i da smo na sajmu ostvarili mnoge važne kontakte, kako privatno tako i poslovno. Ja obilazim sve štandove i svake godine se vraćam kući s punom vrećicom proizvoda.
Imate li neka očekivanja i želje od jubilarnog 10. ZeGeVege festivala?
Nadamo se da ćemo i ove godine imati sreće pa neće padati kiša, a onda će sve biti dobro i bolje nego prošle godine.
Intervju dao Helmut Fenzl, predsjednik uprave SPAR Hrvatska.
We are very pleased to note that over the past year the SPAR Veggie range of vegan products has expanded. Can you tell us something about the new vegan products you’ve introduced to the Croatian market?
Within our firm, we closely monitor trends and market needs. We are constantly trying to extend our product offering, and we have recently introduced BIO products that meet vegan standards such as Natur*pur rice syrup, Natur*pur coconut oil etc. Our vegan buyers represent a precious source of information. We are also fortunate that they are very communicative and very active on social networks, so the flow of information about new products on the market is very fast.
A year ago, we introduced about 10 finished food products of the new product line Veggie by Neni to our loyal customers.
Of course, the products in our branded line Veggie are the most important in our vegan and vegetarian diet segment, so we have expanded our portfolio with 10 new products: gummy candies, ice cream, various types of soy drinks, rice desserts, and so on.
Which vegan products from your product lines VeggieSpar and NaturPur are most popular among Croatian customers?
Vegan products have their lasting, loyal buyers and we can freely say that everything sells out equally well. The number of vegans in Croatia is steadily increasing, but what is more important than quantity is their loyalty to Veggie products.
It is interesting, for example, that Veggie spreads are bought not only by the vegan population. Indeed, they are selling pretty well, and I think people buy them because they are delicious and many are even unaware that they are actually vegan products.
How much does the vegan offering of products in SPAR stores in Croatia differ from those in neighboring countries, and what would you suggest for travelers to taste abroad?
The vegan population in Croatia is considerably smaller than in Austria. According to some data, more than 160.000 people in Croatia (3.7% of population) have excluded meat and all other animal groceries from their diet. Even 38% of the world’s population are vegans and vegetarians, but let’s say that neighboring Austria has a vegan population near 9%. Of course, that means their range of products is significantly bigger. To us, the most important information that we get is from our vegan friends who are traveling around the world and discovering new, interesting products.
For the third consecutive year, SPAR is the general sponsor of the ZeGeVege Festival. Can you briefly recall last year’s experience?
This festival has double importance for us. First of all, there is no other festival or event, in the region, where you can be in direct contact with buyers to whom these products are intended. This is a great opportunity to promote our products. Visitors ask specific questions, and we can happily answer them.
On the other hand, we receive direct feedback this way, such as which our products are good, what is missing in our assortment, and proposals for the acquisition of certain products.
And finally, we have to emphasize that we have made many important contacts, both private and for business. I personally visit all the booths at the festival and return home every year with a bag full of products.
Do you have any expectations or wishes from the 10th jubilee edition of the ZeGeVege Festival?
We just hope we’ll be lucky enough to miss the rain – then everything will be just fine, and even better than last year.
Answers were provided by Helmut Frenzl, the president of the management board of Spar Croatia.