SuperValu has announced that €7.9 million has been invested in sustainability initiatives across its stores over the past six months.
Of this €7.9 million, some €4.1 million was drawn down from a major sustainability fund announced by Musgrave in June 2022
The company noted that an additional €3.8 million spend has been matched by independent SuperValu retailers.
Musgrave Sustainability Fund
The Musgrave Sustainability Fund was launched in June 2022 and runs up until the end of 2023.
It provides a share of €25 million investment in SuperValu stores across the island of Ireland.
So far, 77 SuperValu stores in the Republic of Ireland have availed of the fund.
SuperValu highlighted that these retailers have achieved a reduction of 2,094 tonnes of carbon through the Musgrave Sustainability Fund already, which is equivalent to planting 78,615 trees.
Many other SuperValu retailers are planning to use the fund to introduce their own sustainability measures in 2023, it added.
According to SuperValu, this fund is part of the company’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon by 2040.
Through the fund, stores can avail of funding for LED lighting, refrigeration and freezer upgrades, electronic shelf edge labels (eSELs), solar panels, and electric delivery vans.
Daniel Murphy, program manager, Musgrave Sustainability Fund, said, “This is the kind of action and achievement that we were hoping for when we launched our Sustainability Fund.
"Our retailers have been very enthusiastic about the fund, and many have big plans for 2023."
Achievements So Far
Over the past six months alone, SuperValu retailers have installed 5,322 solar panels, saving enough energy to power 435 homes annually.
In addition, SuperValu retailers have now saved 182,000 sheets of paper with the installation of eSELs in 2022.
Many other stores upgraded their refrigeration, freezers and lighting using the sustainability fund.
SuperValu Westport
One store to avail of the fund was SuperValu Westport in Co. Mayo, which introduced sustainability initiatives including a retrofit of LED lighting, refrigeration and freezer upgrades, and the installation of electronic shelf edge labels (eSELs).
The initiatives implemented so far have seen a 43% reduction in carbon emissions at the Mayo-based store, with more plans for further sustainability initiatives in 2023.
Liam Campion, store manager, SuperValu Westport, said, “At SuperValu Westport, we are acutely aware of the responsibility that rests with all of us in relation to climate action, both individually and collectively.
"SuperValu Westport plays a vital role within the local community, and we need to both educate and lead by example in the fight against climate change."
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more retail news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
