Purchasing process

Our purchasing routines mean that a great many suppliers are offered access to the market and that the market is open even to small suppliers and producers. The deciding factor is quality of the product alone, and not by other factors. The entire purchasing process was certified in 2006. 

1. An extensive analysis is summarised in an annual launch strategy.
   
   
2. All registered suppliers (433 in 2010) receive the request for tender and are invited to submit their tenders.
   
   
3. The product samples for each request for tender are tasted by a tasting panel. The tasting process is blind.
   
   
4. The products bought after tasting are then analysed by our own laboratory before being launched in the stores.
   
   
5. The products are also tasted by a characteristics tasting group that specialises in describing the products.
   
   
6. Before we sell the products in the stores, Swedish wine columnists are invited to try all the new products and all of the wines of a new vintage.
   
   
7. We also sample the products delivered to the stores, to check that the products delivered are the same as the one tendered and selected.
   
   
8. The fixed product range is checked once a year, whilst the new products and trial range are analysed continuously. The best-selling ten per cent of products in the available for order range are also tested. The laboratory also evaluates complaints relating to Systembolaget’s products and carries out external analysis work.