Social company to reduce depopulation in rural areas covering the basic needs of its inhabitants without any added cost through a system of social logistics.
By 2050, the population of Europe’s urban regions is projected to increase by 24.1 million persons while in contrast the population of rural regions is projected to fall by 7.9 million. This fall will affect several countries in the Nordic area and central and eastern Europe as well as Spain and Portugal.
LA EXCLUSIVA offers to its customers living in small and remote rural areas solutions to get certain products (mainly foodstuff but also other services) avoiding the necessity of translating their residence to urban areas.
The company aims at covering the basic necessities of rural inhabitants without any added cost through a social logistic system which offers:
- Access to products and first necessity services (in the same way that urban population do it).
- Saving time and comfort that involves the collection and delivery of orders at home.
- Safety and improvement of the welfare of vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
Customers are rural inhabitants in the provinces of Soria and Burgos with limited capacity of mobility to bigger cities to access to services which are not currently operating in their villages.
LA EXCLUSIVA has established different distribution routes in two provinces of Castilla y León (depopulated territories with a huge number of elderly population) and several contact means to order (telephone, whatsapp, email). The company has also signed agreements with local suppliers: hypermarket, lawyers, plumbing, textile, shoe stores, drugstore...
Resources needed
It was set up with two people in staff.
Resources needed: distribution routes, agreements with suppliers (foodstuffs, electronics, bookstore, textile, toy store) vehicles for distribution and establishment of means of contact to order.
Evidence of success
This innovative business has provided to the company more than 400 satisfied customers all over the region. In fact, 10.000 families have access to these services.
The company started only working in the province of Soria (and originally distributing only foodstuffs) but one year and a half ago they expanded the services to other area (three ongoing distribution routes) and with more services.
In fact, the company has received several awards as a reference in social entrepreneurship.
Potential for learning or transfer
Problem addressed for this good practice is global and common in an important number of rural settlements and territories all over Europe. Because of this, we consider that it has a big potential to be transferred to other regions.
The entrepreneurs Victoria Tortosa and Hugo Nuñez took advantage of this necessity to establish their own company. Considering the successful growth of the company from the year 2014, it is a profitable business.
Anyway, it’s important to highlight the specific background and experience of the entrepreneurs with an overall vision and perfect knowledge of the territory, their potential customers and their needs about lack of services in rural areas.
Tags: SME, Rural, Youth
