The Tarn group Pierre Fabre goes bulk. Since last June, the global pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics giant has been offering some of its products in bulk, a new mode of consumption that combines ecology and economy. In three pharmacies in the Toulouse region, customers can fill their bottle with shampoo and shower gel. Marie Chenal, head of pharmacy customer experience for the Pierre Fabre group, is the guest of La nouvelle eco.
How is this bulk system organized in pharmacies?
It is a principle of formula fountains that will distribute the same products that exist in pharmacies. It is an offer that is concentrated on hygiene products, products with high daily use. Shampoos, shower gels from Klorane, A-Derma, Ducray etc.
So just go to one of those pharmacies and fill up a plastic bottle?
Instead of arriving with your vial or your plastic bottle, which we cannot accept because we don’t know how the formula will react in the vial, we have a glass bottles that we offer you with a deposit system.
What savings does this represent for the Pierre Fabre group?
The study that we did on savings in terms of packaging is that beyond two shampoos purchased in a classic product, the glass bottle becomes more interesting.
Could your bulk system make it to supermarkets in the future?
Absolutely not. Our preferred circuit and our historical partners are pharmacies and parapharmacies.