Thomas Pocher is running a family retail group involved in the E.LECLERC move. He is a family entrepreneur since 1988: his parents owned a small supermarket in Templeuve and expanded over time into a steady local group. Since 2012 they also developed a strong network of "drive stores", with two master "dark stores" and 7 pick-up points around Lille, the latest one dedicated to pedestrians downtown.
Pocher is the "Mister Anti-Food-Waste" for E.Leclerc and participates in collective works about waste sorting and carbon labeling. For a few years now, they focus on three main topics: local and seasonal products first, no more folders in mailboxes, and no more foodwaste. In 2015, he co-created BON ET BIEN together with McCain and Randstad: they produce soups from local vegetables usually thrown away by growers, and aim at having a social impact creating local jobs and formations.
1. Which aspect of the food waste problem is the most relevant for you?
Food waste is throwing into question our global behaviour towards food: this is the first stage in a dramatic change in our attitudes towards nutrition, health, production of food. This is the starting point on an issue that is not easy to solve and one that will lead us onto wider questions.
2. What do you think is the best way to make improvements in this area?
The best "nudge" we collectively need is to raise awareness about waste. This cannot just be a "quick fix" for food retail, for example. Waste must disappear and all efforts to achieve this are good – like the French law last year obliging supermarkets to donate unsold food to charity.
3. Can you already discover a positive development in this area?
The creation of “bon et bien” and the growing links between charities and retailers show how possible it is to "rethink" our ways of growing, supplying, selling, and finally consuming food.
4. What institutional measures would you like to see in the future?
All citizens or organisations must prevent food waste and deal with these problems, first of all by setting good examples of new practices.
The role for SAVE FOOD is to highlight a growing issue such as food waste, and as a leader Nestlé is challenging its whole ecosystem to let new solutions arise.
The role for save food is to put the stress on a growing subject such as food waste, and as a leader Nestlé is challenging its whole ecosystem to let new solutions rise.
