The Austrian supermarket chain Spar has launched the startup program “Young & Urban” and offers access to 1,500 stores.
Both food startups and young companies offering so-called non-food items can apply to the Austrian retailer. Ideally, the products will then end up in up to 1,500 Spar, Eurospar, and Interspar stores. The startups do not have to give up any company shares. The CEO Dr. Gerhard Drexel says:
"We are proud to present our customers with the latest food trends and lifestyle products, while simultaneously promoting Austrian creativity and providing young entrepreneurs with the platform for a successful start."
German supermarket chains offer similar programs to Spar
The retailer presents itself as a fair, equal partner with extensive experience in working with suppliers. Numerous entrepreneurs grew up with Spar and achieved their breakthroughs this way, the company says. Dr. Drexel continues:
"Start-ups benefit from Spar's expertise in the areas of product and design development, quality management, production, and marketing, and can take advantage of Austria-wide distribution in up to 1,500 stores and our online shops."
Companies that manufacture products for end customers can take advantage of the opportunity to gain a foothold in the Alpine republic. Austria has almost nine million inhabitants and offers itself as a German-speaking test market. In Germany, Edeka, Rewe and metro already similar programs.
