2020 is marked by the global crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people say any crisis is both a major problem and an opportunity. How does Kaufland manage to cope with all the issues and challenges in this context, optimizing work processes without significantly affecting its staff, suppliers, and customers?
In fact, we are going through the crisis that affects not only the Republic of Moldova, but most countries of the world. 2020 has brought a major economic, social, and human challenge. However, these difficult times have made us realize that involvement, unity, and solidarity make us stronger, and we can overcome difficulties only together. This is probably one of the most important lessons – caring for people and caring for the community.

We work in a strategic sphere related to food, which requires an even greater responsibility, but also a faster adaptation to the present-day and future realities, in spite of any circumstances. We have been working with the entire team to provide the necessary quantities of products on the shelves during the crisis and protect our customers’, employees’, and partners’ health. In this regard, we have taken relevant security and protection steps in our stores and headquarters.
At the same time, we have been with the authorities and civil society of the Republic of Moldova providing support whenever necessary and staying actively involved in the struggle against the new coronavirus.

I believe that your own example not only saves lives, but inspires the others to follow it. Responsibility and care are a chain reaction, if everyone does their job well our chances of being well increase considerably.

Social responsibility is an essential component of any big business. Many prefer helping quietly, but at the same time, your own example can inspire other businesses to get involved. What social responsibility strategy has Kaufland adopted during this pandemic, and how many actions have you managed to implement?

Social responsibility and sustainable development have been part of Kaufland’s DNA for many years. In my opinion, the most important thing in this regard is commitment to people, communities, environment, and the future. Since our first year, 2016, we started assuming social responsibility projects in the Republic of Moldova.

The essential pillars of our activity are education, environmental protection, society, healthcare, and culture. By contributing to the development of these spheres by specific projects and actions, we respond to the needs of the community, I would even say, to the society’s aspirations for a better future. Since 2016, together with the partner institutions, we have implemented a series of social responsibility projects having a total value of over 15.000.000 MDL in the Republic of Moldova. We stay involved, not only during the crisis or on special occasions, not only to ease the present-day circumstances, but also for a future perspective, so that all of us could live in a better world.

During the crisis, we have been staying with the people of the Republic of Moldova, redirecting our energy and resources where they are needed the most – at the front line. I mean healthcare, social, and also economic spheres. As I have mentioned, this pandemic is a lesson of community power and care for people.

We have joined the partner institutions and the central and local public authorities and initiated projects and support activities, contributing:

  • 1.077.000 MDL – for “Together for You” campaign. The amount was redirected for purchasing medical equipment and healthcare institutions’ urgent needs;
  • 1.200.000 MDL – for purchasing 15.000 test collection kits and transport media for COVID-19 testing;
  • 860.000 MDL – for purchasing medical equipment for municipal healthcare institutions;
  • 100.000 MDL – for “Help. I Care” campaign implemented together with “The Moldova Project” and “Diaconia” Social Mission. Dozens of socially vulnerable families have been supported during this difficult time;
  • 300.000 MDL – support for socially vulnerable persons and beneficiaries of “Diaconia” Social Mission and the General Social Assistance Directorate at Chisinau Mayor’s Office;
  • 65.000 MDL – for supporting “Help. Easter” campaign organized by “The Moldova Project”.

In the new circumstances, what can the state of the Republic of Moldova do to help large investments still provide a significant number of jobs and support the state budget?

In spite of the complicated situation in the Republic of Moldova and in the world, we will continue implementing our development plans as a company. I believe we are going through hard times, and the sphere of economy is closely related to the area of social responsibility activities for a certain period of time.
We continue to rely on efficient cooperation with the state authorities, a dialogue based on trust, honesty, and professionalism. Citizens are the first to benefit from this relationship. We are here, eager to share the experience we have gained while working on other markets, and we are ready to add value to the economic development of the Republic of Moldova. We have to work shoulder to shoulder to overcome this difficult stage as quickly as possible. It depends on each of us how long it will last, but on our ability to cooperate also matters.

Could you please tell us how your company has evolved over the years, from entering the market to the present day? What do you expect from 2020 as a company?
We came to the Republic of Moldova, being sure that it had a great potential in all the aspects: economy, development, human resources, products, and services. In 2016, we rolled up our sleeves and started working, bearing a very clear plan in mind: developing 20 stores and constructing our own logistics center in the following 10 years. Over 2000 well-paid jobs, high-quality services and products demonstrate the best quality and price correlation. We also aimed to bring the retail market in the Republic of Moldova to a better level. I basically mean sustainable innovations and technologies which serve as the basis for Kaufland store infrastructure. Second, we are talking about opportunities for professional and personal development for those who become part of Kaufland team.

I would like to emphasize that we do not merely develop simple stores, but we strive to build sustainable partnerships with local manufacturers and suppliers and promote the causes we believe in by implementing social responsibility projects. For this reason, our plans always involve educational programs, cultural projects, projects for promoting a healthy lifestyle, and environmental protection projects. We believe it is very important to demonstrate care and respect for the community where we work.

In any market where we are present, including the Republic of Moldova, we strive to remain a strong and honest business partner, because in this way we can continue to be an active citizen of the community where we work. Since 2016 until today, Kaufland has already invested over 1.6 billion MDL in developing the company in the Republic of Moldova. In 2016-2020, the taxes and duties paid to the state, including salary taxes and fees, exceed the amount of 180 million lei.
Our plans related to the Republic of Moldova have remained unchanged and ambitious. We intend to invest over 2 billion MDL in the first years after opening the stores and create at least 1000 jobs in the years to come.

In 2020, we face new challenges, and the slogan our company is often guided by and I deeply believe in is, “Whoever stops developing stops being good!” We will continue growing our team of good people at Kaufland, investing in sustainable projects for the company and the community and, undoubtedly, take care of the people who work shoulder to shoulder with us and our customers who visit our stores every day. And we will keep getting involved, because it is involvement that makes the difference.

The series of interviews "Foreign investors vs. COVID-19" are part of the gratitude campaign addressed to all foreign investors in the Republic of Moldova who during the pandemic demonstrated a high sense of social responsibility, an example model of employee care and proactivity in reconceptualizing the business . Campaign launched by The Moldovan Investment Agency with the support of the ‘Economic Policy Advice to the Moldovan Government’ project, implemented by GIZ Moldova with the financial support of the German and Swiss Governments.