Independent Retail Europe (formerly UGAL - Union of Groups of Independent Retailers of Europe)

EU Legislative Interests

DIGITAL AND SINGLE MARKET STRATEGY – Our members are multi-channel retailers. We seek to ensure that EU policy respects a level playing field for all retail channels and that all independent retailers as well as groups thereof can efficiently operate on- and offline, and are able to compete on fair terms. Due to their business model, the websites of groups of independent retailers are by nature platforms. These closed platforms of EU-based member retailers present no more risk to consumers than their brick and mortar stores. Issues: Fair digital market, payment systems, digital euro, Digital Product Passport, cybersecurity, AI, Single Market Act, DSA, Data Act, product liability, consumer protection online, simplification… SUSTAINABILITY – Sustainability legislation needs to be practicable, effective and efficient. Sustainability has a cost, which particularly affects SME retailers. We seek to any unnecessary or disproportionate burdens and costs for independent retailers and simplification of EU legislation. Where possible, burdens should be borne at group level in line with the logic of the cooperative business model of the groups. Issues: Omnibus proposals, due diligence, non-financial reporting, circular economy, Farm to Fork Strategy, energy efficiency, eco and energy labelling, green claims, waste (food waste, PPWR, EPR, textile waste), eco-design, Digital Product Passport, deforestation… INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY/RETAIL ECOSYSTEM – Independent retail constitutes a very large part of the retail market. We seek to ensure that the strategy benefits and reflects the needs of independent retailers, their groups, and consumers. Issues: Transition pathways for retail and agri-food, diverse retail market, healthy cities and rural areas, SME strategy, SME financing, entrepreneurship, skills and jobs, B2B trading practices, supply chain transparency, simplification of legislation. CONSUMER PROTECTION – Our members are committed to ensuring consumer safety and health. This is essential for their close relationships with customers and their reputation. We seek clear, understandable rules that can be easily implemented and do not constitute unnecessary burdens on SME retailers. Issues: Product safety and liability, labelling (ecolabelling, energy labelling, NutriScore, green claims), healthy food, packaging, consumer contracts, Digital Product Passport, right to repair… COMPETITION RULES – The central (wholesale) organisations of groups of independent retailers as well as each member retailer are separate legal entities, whereby the central organisations act at a different economic level of the chain than their SME member retailers, vertical agreements between these organisations and their retailers are indispensable to their functioning. These agreements concern e.g. information exchange, joint purchasing and commercialisation and standardisation. Their pro-competitive effects benefit consumers. On a horizontal level, the retailers are independent entrepreneurs and competitors in the same catchment area. Due to this, agreements in groups of independent retailers are subject to the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation and Guidelines, and the Guidelines on Horizontal Agreements. This has a disproportionate negative impact on their competitiveness, particularly in a digital market, in comparison to their main competitors, integrated retail chains, whose internal activities are not limited by these rules. We seek a fairer treatment of group structures under competition rules to heighten competition and consumer benefit. Issues: VBER, the VGL and HGL, single-price platforms, selective distribution, dual distribution, dual pricing, joint purchasing, alliances, territorial supply constraints, market definition, DMA, merger rules…

Communication Activities

Independent Retail Europe frequently comments on policy issues on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-retail-europe) and X (https://x.com/inderetaileu). Our website https://IndependentRetailEurope.eu/en contains a selection of our position papers. For positions on other issues, please contact us. We organise interactive events with stakeholders and policy makers entitled “Independent Retail Europe Policy Platform”, bringing together policy makers and independent retailers and their groups to exchange on specific policy issues of concern and interest. We organise, together with other European retail associations, the European Retail Day.

Interests Represented

Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members

Member Of

Liaison committee of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Business and Marketing Practices in the Food Supply Chain

Organisation Members

See https://independentretaileurope.eu/en/membership