Musgrave has revealed that it is investing €25m in its SuperValu and Centra stores across the island of Ireland as part of a new sustainability fund aimed at achieving net zero carbon by 2040.
The fund will finance initiatives that are expected to lead to a 12% carbon reduction by the company over a two-year period. The sustainability strategy aims to provide consumers with more sustainable shopping choices in-store and work with retailers to make reductions.
In the Republic of Ireland, Musgrave is committing €50,000 per SuperValu store and €28,000 per Centra store. Retailers can select initiatives based on each store’s needs and set-up, including upgrading freezers and refrigeration units, LED lighting retrofit, solar panels, and electronic shelf edge labels (eSEL).
Noel Keeley, CEO of the Musgrave Group, said: “There has never been a time in human history when our collective effort will matter more than in dealing with the climate crisis. As a business with a presence in every community across the island of Ireland, we have a responsibility to act, while putting in place genuine and meaningful sustainability policies. Building on our work in this area over many years, the Musgrave Sustainability Fund is an important catalyst for real change and will accelerate our ambitious drive to net zero.”
As part of its strategy, Musgrave has pledged that all of its own brand packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 (currently over 90%), with similar commitments for fruit & veg and other instore packaging.
Musgrave is also looking at sourcing products closers to home to avoid the cost and environmental impact of shipping.
“We are, and Musgrave would be very proud of the fact that we source 75% of our products on the island of Ireland already, so will absolutely and always have been focused on reducing food miles,” said Keeley.
He noted that its suppliers were making similar sustainable changes. “We work hand in hand with our suppliers to make sure we are all doing our part because ultimately we can only achieve these outcomes by the whole supply chain cooperating together,” he said.
