Aswak Assalam, part of YNNA, has launched a national campaign to support local cooperatives and promote their products in stores across the country in partnership with Agence pour le Développement Agricole.
As part of the campaign, the Aswak Assalam store in the Riyad district of Rabat is hosting a special area from 4 to 17 March to display products made by Moroccan cooperatives. The goal is to help producers reach more customers and increase sales of local goods.
The products on show include honey, amlou, dates, couscous, spices, saffron, natural oils and natural cosmetic items. Organisers say the event gives customers the chance to see the variety of products made by cooperatives from different regions.
Abdelkrim Tassin, a board member of Aswak Assalam, said cooperatives play an important role in supporting local production and creating jobs. He said the initiative helps bring producers and consumers closer together and supports products made in Morocco.
Since 2019, following an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Aswak Assalam has worked to increase the presence of cooperative products in its stores. The company says it currently sells more than 1,000 products from around 45 cooperatives across 15 stores nationwide.
The partnership is supported by the agricultural development agency, which helps cooperatives with packaging, labelling and meeting health and safety rules set by the Office National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits Alimentaires.
Mohamed El Rifi, director general of the agency, said the initiative gives cooperatives a chance to present their products directly to customers and improve their market access. He said it supports the development of the social and solidarity economy.
Officials say the campaign is part of wider efforts to open modern retail channels to small producers and support local economic activity, particularly in rural areas.
Aswak Assalam says it will continue to dedicate space in its stores to products made by Moroccan cooperatives.
