As part of its Achat-Québec program, Wal-Mart Canada today announced that it will be holding a Green Fair in Montreal on August 29. This event will give Wal-Mart the opportunity to meet with Quebec suppliers of organic, environmentally friendly and fair-trade products.

The goal of the Green Fair is to bring together the 70 to 80 Quebec companies that produce or distribute organic, environmentally friendly and fair-trade products in order to identify which ones could become Wal-Mart suppliers in Quebec.

“Quebeckers are increasingly sensitive to the origins of the products they buy and the production methods of the goods they consume. We believe it is important to make room on our shelves for organic, environmentally friendly and fair-trade products that come from Quebec companies,” said Chantal Glenisson, vice-president, operations, Wal-Mart Quebec.

A well-established program

Launched in 2005, the Achat-Québec program includes nearly 1,350 Quebec suppliers whose products are specially identified in the store. To recruit suppliers, Wal-Mart has held trade fairs since 2005, where suppliers are invited to present their products. Wal-Mart had previously organized two trade fairs in Montreal and Quebec City as pilot projects. In 2006 and earlier this year, Wal-Mart travelled to Chaudière-Appalaches (Saint-Georges de Beauce), Centre-du-Québec/Mauricie (Drummondville), the Eastern Townships (Magog/Sherbrooke), Rivière-du-Loup (Acadie-Québec) and Sainte-Agathe (Laurentians). In total, since the program was launched, Wal-Mart has met with 800 potential suppliers at these events.

“The Green Fair is something of an extension of our Achat-Québec program, as well as part of Wal-Mart’s EcoLogic program aimed at offering customers a broader selection of environmentally friendly products, eliminating waste and using 100% renewable energy sources,” concluded Ms. Glenisson.