Gunhild Stordalens Eat enters into collaboration with Reitan – E24

In September, it became clear that Gunhild Stordalen and her Eat foundation will lead work on one of the top five themes during next year’s UN summit on food security.

Now they have brought Reitan Handel, who among other things owns Rema 1000, to the team. The aim is to exchange knowledge and research on more sustainable food production.

– This is an exciting collaboration. We can do a lot in practice, and we still believe we have a lot to learn and a lot to teach, says owner and CEO Ole Robert Reitan at Reitan Handel.

E24 meets him, Gunhild Stordalen and an entire Try Råd photography team at Vika in Oslo on Monday afternoon. Both Stordalen and Reitan are very satisfied with the recent collaboration.

– Reitan has already excelled in the area. It is important for us to bring with us the main players in the food sector, who can put direct pressure on suppliers. They can also inspire others and show what is possible to do in practice, says Gunhild Stordalen, who is also very happy with the collaboration.

Reitan highlights the cuts in palm oil and the replacement of chicken grass as examples of green measures Rema 1000 has taken, and says the food actor is looking for more green opportunities.

In addition to the knowledge exchange, the agreement includes a financial contribution to Eat. Reitan doesn’t want to get away with how big the sum is.

– Contributing financially is part of the package and we are happy to do so. I think we got a lot back, says Reitan.

– Decisive if you want to satisfy the financial market

Both Reitan and Stordalen believe that this is a good time to develop better green solutions in the grocery industry. Consumers, especially young people, are concerned about better animal welfare, less use of plastic and a better selection of meat alternatives.

Reitan Handel was a sponsor of Eat for a few years when they were in the starting pit, before they have now had a break from collaboration for a few years. Reitan says several raised eyebrows when Reitan Handel first partnered with Eat in 2015.

– Both in the industry and internally, people said that “Oh, now he will no longer be a trader, now he will save the world.”

But today the pipe has a different sound, he says. Especially when it comes to Reitan Handel going public.

– When we talk to analysts, we get maybe 50 questions about ESG. It is absolutely crucial if today’s financial market is to be satisfied. Before, it was perceived as a kind of red stockings, says Reitan.

He believes that meeting sustainability will also be crucial for Rema 1000’s competitiveness.

– This is not just idealism, but something we will learn from for many years. It is necessary for the world and for us as a business actor: in 2020 we must show consumers that we behave, he says.

– Sounds like music to my ears, says Stordalen.

You want more big players

Reitan hopes that the collaboration with Eat can make them a faster and tougher player in sustainability.

– I hope we continue to be someone who made a difference. I think we can, he says.

Stordalen, for her part, hopes to bring several major players from the grocery industry into the team before the UN summit begins. Who is on the wish list is currently a secret.

– We have established a collaboration with the Seafood Council. So we want bigger players. This is a charity event and, in the end, it will turn into something that benefits consumers, he says.

Initially, the cooperation between the foundation and Reitan Handel will last until the UN summit begins next fall. However, neither Reitan nor Stordalen rule out that the collaboration will continue after the meeting.

– If we have fun, says Reitan laughing.

– Yes, if we have fun and make a difference, says Stordalen.