About

Head of legal services, Francesco Mainardi and his legal team at Coop have won praise for their involvement in environmental management recycling regulations. Coop is one of the largest retailers in Switzerland, with over 2,000 shops and more than 54,000 employees in the country. Coop was appointed “world’s most sustainable retailer” in 2011, and its focus on ethical sourcing and sustainable practices places heavy demands on Mainardi and his legal team. Mainardi also works on brand management, given Coop’s close network of food and retail affiliates. An example of this is his assistance on the partnership on socio-environmentally responsible brands, in particular the company selling products from Max Havelaar Fairtrade. Mainardi is also central to helping spearhead self-checkout facilities in Switzerland through Coop’s Passabene system, and due to its success, later on the subsequent introduction of an Apple iPhone app allowing customers to scan items.