Banning "meaty" names for vegan products is doing businesses a disservice

It’s all in the name

Sir, The decision in France to ban vegan alternatives from being called “meaty” names is doing a disservice to businesses working hard on providing alternatives to vegans and vegetarians (‘So adieu, ‘bifteck végétarien”). As many have been specifically developed to resemble meat, they should be allowed to be marketed under similar names. These convey important information on what consumers can expect of a product in a straightforward way. Interestingly, it had never been met with criticism until vegan alternatives made their way from health food shops into mainstream supermarkets.

As the number of vegans is growing at an exponential rate, there’s no denying that meat, dairy and egg industries are feeling threatened and trying to restrict the marketing of vegan products.

Dominika Piasecka, The Vegan Society





ESLs a win-win on waste

Sir, You are spot on, Tesco should be praised for its efforts to reduce waste and for its transparency But there is only one option to take if we are to tackle the ugly issue of food waste. Transparency and openness is the key - regardless of the backlash - not only to make us all more accountable, but also to finding the right mix of solutions to the problem, there is no silver bullet here.

Electronic shelf labels are being recognised as one of the most effective ways to make shopping more sustainable for their ability to head off potential food waste at point of purchase, while also helping to improve sales and margins. By having the freedom to remotely change prices on any shelf in seconds, retailers can graduate pricing based on sales velocity and inventory levels to ensure they reduce waste by the end of the business day.

It’s a win-win, as shoppers have access to lower prices and supermarkets tackle head-on the controversial issue of waste, improving corporate social responsibility in a powerful and genuine way.

Paul Milner, marketing director, Displaydata





How technology pays off

Sir, Technology is the driving force behind richer, closer and better-connected retail experiences. Just look at the rise of shopping apps, self-scan checkouts and in-store digital displays. A supermarket that has invested in systems and technology that allow them to offer different payment methods is instantly more relevant.

With retailers today desperate to provide more value to their customers and to differentiate from the competition, innovation in payments can make it easy to be a customer. Not only does that represent great value for the customer, it is a compelling reason to return.

Michal Kissos Hertzog, CEO, mobile-only bank Pepper