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Starting Wednesday, shoppers at Føtex will notice a new feature on their price tags: a star next to European goods.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Bilka will also roll out this star marking, while Netto plans to add it on Thursday. This initiative comes from the Salling Group, the parent company of these grocery chains, which informed BT of the changes.
In a move aimed at encouraging the purchase of European products, Salling Group’s CEO, Anders Hagh, shared the news on LinkedIn at the end of February. He expressed that the decision arose from numerous inquiries from customers interested in European brands.
“To accommodate this demand, we will introduce a new star marking on our electronic price signs across Bilka, Føtex, and Netto in March,” he announced. “This star will designate brands owned by European companies.”
The decision follows a growing dialogue in Denmark about boycotting American goods, highlighted by the Facebook group ‘Boycott goods from the USA,’ which boasts nearly 73,000 members. This discussion has gained momentum amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Despite the new markings, the Salling Group assures that customers will still find products from non-European countries on the shelves. “Ultimately, the choice always lies with the customers. The star is merely an extra resource for those who prefer European brands,” the announcement emphasized.
Interestingly, Salling Group’s competitors, Coop, Rema, and Dagrofa, have chosen not to adopt a similar labeling strategy. Representatives from these grocery groups confirmed their stance in a written response to Ritzau.
Coop oversees chains such as SuperBrugsen and 365discount, while Dagrofa includes stores like Meny, Spar, and Min Købmand. Dagrofa’s communications director, Morten Vestberg, shared, “In Dagrofa’s chains, we highlight many Danish products and prioritize ecological, keyhole-labeled, and Fairtrade options to guide customers effectively. For now, we are content with this approach and have no further plans.”
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