Hanshow and Unide Partner to Drive Store Modernization with “Plan Unide 2.0”
Hanshow, a global leader in digital retail solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Unide Corporativa, one of Spain’s most established food retail cooperatives, to accelerate store digitalization and improve operational efficiency under its new strategic roadmap, “Plan Unide 2.0” (2025–2028). This collaboration marks an important milestone in both companies’ missions to modernize retail operations, enhance customer experience, and drive sustainable growth across Spain’s highly competitive grocery sector.
A Legacy of Community and Cooperation
Founded more than 90 years ago, Unide Corporativa represents a network of hundreds of independent grocery retailers across Spain. Built on the cooperative principles of local service, quality, and community commitment, Unide has long stood as a symbol of trust and proximity for Spanish consumers. Through its cooperative structure, Unide empowers independent retailers to compete with large supermarket chains by sharing resources, knowledge, and strategic initiatives.
With the rollout of Plan Unide 2.0, Unide has set a bold vision for the future. The roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the cooperative’s competitiveness through business development, store modernization, and new store openings. At its core, the plan aims to help members adapt to changing consumer expectations and technological advancements—ensuring that Unide continues to thrive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
The Need for Digital Transformation
Like many cooperatives, Unide faces operational challenges tied to its decentralized structure. Traditional manual paper labeling, inconsistent pricing across stores, and limited agility in managing promotions have created inefficiencies that can affect both operations and customer satisfaction. As Spanish shoppers increasingly demand price transparency, real-time information, and seamless in-store experiences, these legacy systems have become barriers to growth.
The shift toward fresh, local, and sustainable products has only heightened these expectations. Consumers want to know that the prices they see are accurate and consistent, while store operators need tools that allow them to update prices instantly, launch promotions efficiently, and maintain a cohesive brand image across all locations. Balancing cost efficiency with brand consistency has thus become a top priority for Unide’s modernization agenda.
Hanshow’s Digital Solutions: Bringing Precision and Efficiency
To address these challenges, Unide selected Hanshow as its technology partner, supported by Shop & Roll as the accessories provider. Hanshow’s advanced Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) solutions—powered by a cloud-based management platform—are now being deployed across Unide’s cooperative network to create a more connected and intelligent in-store ecosystem.
The new system enables centralized control over pricing and promotions, allowing Unide headquarters to implement changes in real time across all participating stores. This not only eliminates the need for manual label updates but also ensures that customers always see the correct price and promotion information at the shelf. For shoppers, this translates into greater trust and transparency; for store staff, it means simplified workflows and reduced operational costs.
The ESL solution also supports dynamic pricing, empowering Unide to respond quickly to market conditions, optimize margins, and tailor promotions to local customer needs. Furthermore, by replacing traditional paper labels with digital alternatives, the cooperative is contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing paper waste and operational inefficiencies.
Voices from the Partnership
“At Unide, we are committed to improving efficiency and supporting our member stores while remaining true to our cooperative values of local service and quality,” said David Navas Abengózar, General Director of Unide. “Hanshow’s ESL technology has simplified operations and helped us modernize our stores in line with our Plan Unide 2.0 vision. It’s a step forward that strengthens both our competitiveness and our community roots.”
Echoing this sentiment, Liangyan Li, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales at Hanshow, stated: “This collaboration demonstrates how Hanshow’s customer-focused innovation can translate real retail needs into practical technology. Together with Unide, we’re enabling smarter, more transparent store operations that benefit both business performance and consumer trust.”
Empowering Retail Through Global Innovation
For Hanshow, this partnership represents more than a single deployment—it reinforces the company’s position as a trusted partner for digital transformation in global retail. Hanshow has been at the forefront of introducing intelligent solutions that combine Internet of Things (IoT) technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation to reshape how retailers operate.
From Europe to Asia, North America, and beyond, Hanshow’s technologies are helping retailers achieve smarter, greener, and more efficient store ecosystems. By collaborating with forward-thinking organizations like Unide, Hanshow continues to demonstrate how digital innovation can bridge operational gaps, reduce costs, and elevate the shopping experience.
The Unide partnership also reflects a growing trend across Europe’s retail industry: cooperatives and traditional grocers embracing technology to remain competitive while maintaining their local identity. Digital transformation, once seen as the domain of large supermarket chains, is increasingly accessible and essential for independent retailers seeking long-term resilience.
A Vision for the Future of Retail
As Unide progresses with Plan Unide 2.0, the implementation of Hanshow’s ESL technology will serve as a cornerstone of its modernization strategy. The initiative not only enhances store operations but also positions the cooperative as a pioneer in smart retail practices among independent food retailers in Spain.
Through this partnership, both Hanshow and Unide exemplify how technology and tradition can coexist—creating value for businesses, empowering employees, and delivering better experiences for consumers. The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community-driven progress—principles that will define the next generation of retail success stories.
About Hanshow
Hanshow is a global leader in developing and manufacturing electronic shelf labels (ESL) and digital retail solutions. The company offers retailers a suite of customized IoT-enabled tools and store digitization platforms designed to improve operational efficiency, optimize pricing, and enhance customer engagement. Hanshow’s solutions serve thousands of stores in over 70 countries and regions, helping retailers transition toward smarter, more sustainable, and customer-centric business models.
