Planet Organic has revealed that it plans to review all of it’s product ranges as part of efforts to rebuild following its rescue deal earlier this year.
According to The Grocer, The exact categories had not yet been decided, but the work would involve “redefining the product standard” on offer, alongside price reviews.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the last-minute deal to rescue the chain in April, founder Renée Elliott laid out a business plan for the financial year from September, which will include a marketing strategy and a potential campaign around the ”meaning of organic” as well as sustainability and nutritional products.
As part of the new range at the organic retailer, the chain would move back to 80% of its range being fully organic and would focus on promoting “nutritious foods for better health,” she said.
Elliott hopes to create defined guidelines the chain can give to potential suppliers, which clearly state what its standards are.
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“We’re going to start range reviewing everything – which has not been done,” Elliott said. “We’re agreeing the process for that now.”
“It has to be healthy, there are certain ingredients that we don’t want in there.”
She added: “We’re trying to be really clear, really simple that ‘this is what we want’, and we can say to our customers this is who we are.
“Our strategy is not to expand for now, but to stabilise. We’ve been reducing costs, rebuilding supply chain and onboarding most of our suppliers.
Elliott also apologised to suppliers, some of whom she admitted weren’t paid as a result of the company’s struggles.
“This never should have happened, it was awful. But that was them and this is us, and that was then and this is now. I’m looking forward,” Elliott said.
Planet Organic owed over £12.5 million to creditors before it was saved in the rescue deal earlier this year by Bioren Ltd.
