basic

basic offers organic for everybody!

Under the motto, “organic for everybody”, the four founders of basic AG launched their first basic organic supermarket in Munich in 1998. Their concept of whetting people’s appetites for organic products in the public at large worked out. Within just ten years, almost 25 basic supermarkets all over Germany are now offering organic products for young and old, big and small. The first of a number of planned branches in Austria opened recently in Vienna and last year, the company turnover increased by 37 percent to 72.6 million euros as compared to 2005.

Under the motto, “organic for everybody”, four founders of basic AG launched their first basic organic supermarket in Munich in 1998. Their concept of whetting people’s appetites for organic products in the public at large worked out. Within just ten years, almost 25 basic supermarkets all over Germany are now offering organic products for young and old, big and small. The first of a number of planned branches in Austria opened recently in Vienna and last year, the company turnover increased by 37 percent to 72.6 million euros as compared to 2005.

But what does “organic for everybody” actually mean? And what makes the concept of basic so special and successful? The organic supermarkets in the heart of German cities supply their customers with everything from apple juice to cinnamon – a complete assortment of excellent and certified organic quality. About 8,000 articles (depending on the size of the market) from different suppliers and in differing price categories are available: freshly packed organic food for daily consumption, delicacies and fresh products such as fruit and vegetables, meat and cold cuts, milk and cheese, bread and pastries as well as soya products and convenience food for quick meals, ingredients for the international cuisine but also a regional assortment for native recipes. The foodstuffs more than comply with the European Union organic standard or are of superior organic quality. This also applies to fruit and vegetable juices, water and refreshments, ecological beer and wine from German and European organic winegrowers in the beverage departments of the basic supermarkets. The drugstore section offers natural cosmetics, household articles and products for children and babies. In addition, there are about 180 articles offered in all product categories under the “basic” brand in all branches at particularly favourable prices. Special offers customary in trade are also part of the programme.

basic-assortment focuses on natural taste

Organic is not a question of one’s philosophy on life, or of one’s religion, age or profession but rather an issue about healthy nutrition and ethical responsibility vis-à-vis our environment. Organic products protect the environment, preserve small rural farms and skilled manual methods of production, promote and support regional structures, ensure fair producer prices and offer “real foodstuffs”: products produced without genetic engineering, without synthetic fertilizers and biocides and where only one tenth of a total of 300 registered preservatives and additives are used in the processing thus ensuring the highest possible degree of safety and natural taste for the consumers. Furthermore, organic farming preserves the diversity of plants and animals on our planet and is in harmony with nature – so that future generations will have an environment worth living in.

Guaranteed organic: organic farmers supply basic

basic chooses its suppliers and partners carefully because they guarantee the quality of basic. The products that are on the shelves at basic have been grown and produced in harmony with nature without chemicals and genetic engineering. Animal products originate from animals that have been appropriately kept and grown up without the use of fattening additives. The selected suppliers as well as the inspections stipulated by the European Union organic regulation ensure that the specifications for all organic products are complied with.

Healthy enjoyment for community, security and education

Healthy and enjoyable nutrition is one of life’s joys and is particularly important for the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. basic has therefore supported children and youth organisations since 2004 on location by donating lunch. This is in cooperation with Children for a better World e. V. (CfabW). One cent is donated for each purchase in basic markets; in addition, the proceeds from the donor containers at the cash registers are added to this sum. In this way, the young children in the day nursery RoKoKo in Aachen, the members of Flingern Mobil e. V. in Düsseldorf or the children at the active playground Gostenhof e. V. in Nürnberg receive a warm meal every day in an informal atmosphere and this epitomises: community and security. Furthermore, there is a development fund whose donations also flow completely into social, farming projects in developing countries. And by buying coffee from basic, which originates from small organic farms in Mexico, Peru and India, customers can do a good deed: with a purchase of one kilogram of “Uno per tutti”, 50 cents go into a selected development project. For example, in cooperation with the future foundation development aid in Bochum, a village community of the farmer Don Arturo supported an educational project on a small estate on the plateau of the southern tip of Mexico with the result that the illiteracy rate has decreased from almost 40 percent to eight percent in the last 20 years. In this way, the improved professional perspectives and infrastructure contribute to more quality of life for the population that lives there.

Professional future: training as specialist for organic products

With an impressive ten percent of apprentice employees, the company also offers young people in Germany and Austria a future professional career: training to become merchants in retailing or salespersons, both accompanied by additional training to become specialists in organic products!