When reformulating, we prioritise fast-moving consumer goods, those seen as beneficial for health or those that are most popular among children, thereby contributing to quality public health.
We have reduced the levels of salt, fat, saturated fat, sugar, preservatives and other artificial or potentially allergenic ingredients, adding greater amounts of fibre, fruit and micronutrients wherever possible.
The goal is to prevent and fight against diet-related diseases, including obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases.
The guidelines for developing Private Brand products and perishables reinforce the principles listed in our Nutritional Policy:
Find out in detail how we reformulate our products for improved nutrition.
In 2023, Biedronka reformulated 11 of its Private Brand products. Changes include the reduction of 12% sugar in Madero mayonnaise, which represents a total of eight tons that were not consumed. Related to salt, seven products were reformulated, such as meat gyozas, a product that had a 25% reduction, representing a total of 10 tons of salt that were not consumed. Two different cereals for children were enriched with fibres (the Vitanella chocolate flakes and honey flakes), on a total of 47 tons of fibre added.
At least 90% of Biedronka Private Brand products had no artificial colours or flavour enhancers (98% and 97% of the assortment, respectively). Bakery and pastry products, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, including packaged and prepared products, were free of artificial colours and flavour enhancers.
In 2023, 20 nutritional reformulations were made for Pingo Doce and Recheio Private Brand products. Pingo Doce became the first Portuguese retailer to eliminate artificial colourings and flavour enhancers from 100% of its Private Brand products.
Of note are the Pingo Doce and Amanhecer filled breakfast cereals and the Masterchef stars cereal, to which around six tonnes of fibre were added. Also, the Pingo Doce strawberry, biscuit and banana yoghurt and the Pingo Doce sweet popcorn saw a reduction of between 12% and 27% of sugar, avoiding the consumption of 36 tonnes. Salt was reviewed in five products (reductions of between 24% and 40%), particularly corn flakes cereals, where the consumption of more than 2.3 tonnes of salt was avoided. On saturated fat, the Amanhecer light mayo and Pingo Doce mini pancakes stood out, with reductions of 29% and 77%, respectively.
Ara Private Brand products require less reformulation since the Group’s accumulated experience in product development enables the Company to incorporate production guidelines with the recommended intake of salt, sugar, fat and saturated fat from the initial development stage.
Nevertheless, in 2023 Ara reformulated the recipes of six Private Brand products, regarding salt. Of note are the reformulations made to Tojitos (crisps) and Camote (nachos) snacks, which reformulation avoided the consumption of 1.8 tonnes of salt. The flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate has also been removed from the lemon-flavoured and chicken-flavoured Tojitos crisps.
In Colombia, 95% and 96% of Private Brand products had no artificial colours or flavour enhancers, respectively. In Ara’s specialised perishables (bakery and pastry products), 96% contained no artificial colours and 100% contained no flavour enhancers.
We have also been removing some substances considered potentially harmful to human health and/or ecosystems, such as allergens in wellness and personal care products.
In the Be Beauty cosmetic range, microplastics were removed from the green tea, sensitive and seaweed face masks, and from the nail varnish removers.
Information on the reformulation of our Perishables and Private Brand food products was confirmed by an external and independent entity for the Group’s 2023 Annual Report.
Read the 2023 Independent Limited Assurance Report.