Retailer Åhléns taps TrusTrace for traceability, compliance

One of Sweden’s most iconic retail brands, department store chain Åhléns, has turned to traceability specialist TrusTrace to help it meet EU regulations on sustainability and traceability.

The privately held retailer – which has outlets across Sweden and focuses on the sale of premium brands and has a turnover of around SEK 5bn (approximately $530m) a year – said it was accelerating its sustainability agenda after "a period of renewed focus on restoring profitability and establishing a stronger foundation for the future."

“We look forward to sharpening our sustainability work even further with this collaboration,” said Nina Vikkula, head of sustainability at Åhléns. “This partnership gives us a clearer picture of our impact, helps us understand and manage our risks, and strengthens our ability to make informed decisions for a more sustainable business.”

Along with many major EU retailers, Åhléns has been facing the consequences of the cost of living crisis in Europe with reduced consumer spending, whilst also being under pressure to meet strict requirements for product quality, costs, labour rights, carbon emissions, and resource supply.

TrusTrace said its AI-integrated traceability platform will support Åhléns in "mapping and analysing sustainability data across multiple tiers of the supply chain, enabling a more structured, scalable, and data-driven approach to due diligence and regulatory compliance."