Inglorious fruits and vegetables
7-7-2014
The third largest supermarket chain in France, Intermarché, introduced the campaign ‘inglorious fruits & vegetables’. The supermarket buys the ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables that would normally be thrown away and sells it 30% cheaper. It is a win-win-win campaign: consumers get good quality fruits and vegetables for a cheaper price. The growers are paid for products that normally would be discarded and Intermarché increases its sales with this new line of products. Besides the ‘inglorious’ fruits and vegetables the supermarket sells soups and juices made from these products as well.
Intermarché launched this campaign nationwide trough billboards, social media, television and radio. In the Netherlands we have seen a number of actions to promote these ‘ugly’ products as well. In 2013 we saw the crooked cucumber action of the ladies of Kromkommer and the store Zegro in Rotterdam and in 2014 we’ve spotted the crowdfunding action for ‘kromkommer’ soups.
Dutch couple links entrepreneurship and education in Suriname
4-6-2014
Entrepreneurs Jessica Augustin and Stanley Wassenaar from Amsterdam hope to be able to open ‘their’ hotel doors: Hotel Con Corazón in Paramaribo. With the profits of the hotel they want to contribute to good education and a better future for children in Suriname. To make their dream reality, they started a crowdfunding campaign and hope to collect 10 percent of the initial capital of approximately 800,000 euros. People can contribute in different ways; give a donation, provide a loan or become a social shareholder. For information on how to contribute klik here.
No reseach Most Welcoming City 2014
15-5-2014
This year will be no research for the Most Welcoming City of the Netherlands. This article is only available in Dutch.
Hospitality game for Utrecht
15-4-2014
Utrecht Tourism has developed an online game for the hospitality industry. Entrepreneurs can train their personnel more easily with this game and track their progress. Utrecht had an average score at the ‘Most Hospitable City’ research last year, with an 11th place from the 21 cities studied. Watch the video by Shapers for an impression.
Flemish hospitality at snack wall
19-3-2014
To advertise Flanders as a tourist destination in The Netherlands, several typical Flemish delicacies came from the Dutch FEBO snack wall . Visitors treated with a flair of Flemish hospitality as well. See the video for the promotion campaign.
Swimming or clubbing in a ghost station in Paris
17-3-2014
Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, candidate of the French party ‘Union pour un Mouvement Populaire’ has commissioned a series of proposals of how the Ghost Stations in the center of Paris could be used. In collaboration with OXO architects and Laisné Architecte she made a number of designs on how to transform the vacant subterranean spaces. Their ideas vary from restaurants and nightclubs to a pool and even a theater. Paris has a total of 16 disused subway stations, most of which are closed between 1930 and 1970.
The magic factor is running
14-3-2014
Theme park De Efteling organized in collaboration with radio channel Q-Music the Santa run last December, but also in various Disney parks in America several runs are organized. Half marathons for the whole family, both young children and adults. Like the Princess Half in February, but also the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend and the kidsrun. Disney is also working on setting up a #DisneyFitChallenge. We see that entertainment around running is becoming more important, earlier we saw the Color Run in the Netherlands and on 29 March the Electric Run will take place. Perhaps in the context of health and to make the youth more enthusiastic about running, the theme parks such as De Efteling can organize various types of runs, with the inspiration from Disney Land.
Amsterdam turns bread into energy
12-3-2014
Inhabitants of the Kolenkitwijk neighborhood in Amsterdam threw their bread on the streets because their religion prohibits throwing it away in the garbage bin. This caused a rat plague and other problems with unwanted animals. As a solution the government placed special bread dumpsters in the area. The bread from these dumpsters is used by Pink Pony Express for a national energy experiment in collaboration with micro-biologists. They developed it into a permanent bread digester that can process 10 kg bread into 3000 liter of biogas a day. To celebrate the opening there are three bread baking workshops in the neighborhood on Friday 14 March.
Temporary city in empty building
18-2-2014
Jaap Urban started a project to provide a temporary practical solution for one empty building in Groningen at the end of April or the beginning of May 2014. With the launch of tijdelijkestad.nl he motivates citizens and entrepreneurs to think along about the optimal use of a building for one week. Potential buildings can be suggested via the website, when one is found, the contents of the program and pop-up stores can be filled in. This can vary from temporary shops and sport facilities to restaurants and office space for entrepreneurs. Next that events and workshops will complement the program for the period.
Within three weeks a suitable building will be picked.
Pay a KLM booking through social media
14-2-2014
Now KLM Royal Dutch Airlines makes it possible for customers to pay their booking through social media. Consumers are already able to book extra services through social media, such as a seat reservation or extra baggage addition, but they can now pay their booking via Facebook or Twitter as well. KLM will send the customer a link in a private message on Facebook or Twitter, consumers can choose the method of payment and complete the transaction. A KLM service agent receives a payment confirmation and sends a message to the customer. KLM is the first airline that makes it possible to pay through social media.
