REWE Group Launches Quality Campaign
Cologne, 28.05.09
Private label non-food products undergo comprehensive tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland - Trading company promotes better quality by introducing independent controls - Products bearing exclusive TÜV seal on sale from June
Only products which have passed the strict quality and security controls will bear the exclusive seal awarded by independent experts. The high number and the detailed checks make the quality seal in its present form unique in German trading. The products are checked in terms of their security, functionality, durability and harmful substances contained; moreover, samples will be drawn on a regular and ongoing basis during the manufacturing processes.
With this campaign, REWE Group adds another cornerstone to its sustainability strategy it has been pursuing for many years particularly in food trading by offering organic products and articles from fair trade. "By introducing this exclusive quality seal, we want to strengthen our customers' trust in our non-food products and offer them quality criteria that can be verified", said Manfred Esser, Management Board member in charge of Strategic Purchasing at the Cologne-based trading company. "Transparency and reliability are factors of decisive importance in today's harsh competitive environment - this is what the quality seal of TÜV Rheinland stands for."
Ulrich Fietz, Management Board member in charge of the operative business of TÜV Rheinland explains: "TÜV Rheinland stands for 30 years of experience in Asia and combines German quality requirements with local production conditions on site. From our point of view, the cooperation between TÜV Rheinland and REWE Group marks a step into the right direction."
The first articles bearing the seal will be out for sale in REWE supermarkets and the discounter PENNY from June. At the same time, also the toom hypermarkets and the consumer electronics chain ProMarkt will offer such products. The toom DIY stores, which also belong to REWE Group, will start to sell such articles at a later point in time.
The quality checks will be undertaken by experts of TÜV Rheinland and take place also at the production sites and when the merchandise is being loaded for dispatch, for example in Far East, from where REWE Group procures numerous articles that are forwarded on ship.
The tests are much more comprehensive, detailed and in-depth than it is required by law for obtaining the GS seal, for instance. One of the requirements to be fulfilled is that even harmful substance concentrations which are not subject to statutory limits, must be much lower than foreseen by generally accepted guidelines.
Each product will bear its own ID number on the seal allowing the customers to see on the homepage of TÜV Rheinland at www.tuv.com which tests a product has undergone. In addition, further product information is available there.
Contact
REWE GROUP-Corporate Communications
Tel.: 0221 - 149-1050
E-Mail: presse(at)rewe-group.com
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