Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) was looking to develop a case study illustrating sustainability interventions that could be trialled in small and medium sized independent convenience stores, to be implemented over a 12-month period.

The aim was to create a ‘best in class’ case study with one retailer, allowing the creation of sustainability, energy efficiency and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guidance for the wider retail sector.

Cost and time are significant barriers to retailers wishing to implement sustainable changes in their shops, as well as confusion over where exactly to begin to make the most effective changes.

There are more than 46,000 independent convenience stores in Great Britain, so the potential impact is significant.

The project involved the retailer, Amit Patel of Premier Town Street in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. We carried out a range of energy efficiency interventions in the store, which included the installation of LED lighting, replacing old soft drink chillers and updating old electrical appliances with energy efficient alternatives.

These energy efficiency measures were added in conjunction with other sustainability activities such as recycling initiatives, creating point-of-sale sustainability messaging, helping inspire behaviour change for Amit and his staff, and reducing the hours spent driving a van by introducing better stock management practices.

Energy Saving Trust supported this through project management, energy monitoring activities, guidance (such as the introduction of an in-store energy awareness policy) and advice on sustainability and energy efficiency interventions (such as retrofit), as well as participation in dissemination activity at the end of the project.

Our work also included:

• Overall project management.
• Project design.
• Carbon footprint measuring.
• Installation of monitoring equipment and ongoing data collection over a 12-month period.
• Development of Guidance on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Interventions.
• Reports of energy savings gained.

“When considering sustainability, you also need to make sure your devices work well for you,” Andrew Tod, Energy Saving Trust

Our partnership with Amit helped him save more than £600 a year. The savings show that by making changes that benefit both their local community and the wider world, convenience retailers in the UK could cumulatively save £28.3 million each year.

By analysing Amit’s monthly electricity consumption, we showed that there was a 9% reduction during the installation period, which increased to a 12% reduction after all installations were complete. This equates to a potential financial saving of £610 a year.

To mark the end of the project, we invited 35 leading convenience retailers to hear from Amit, Energy Saving Trust and SBF GB&I about the project. At the event, we heard how retailers have made pledges to make changes in their own store. You can see those pledges in the video below:

“At Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, we are passionate about our Growing for Good vision. It’s about positive change for businesses, people and the planet. We must work collaboratively with our retail customers and our joint scale in order to positively change consumer behaviour. The point of purchase at retailers – both large and small – is one of our key consumer touchpoints, so we see our work to deliver a sustainable future as an important and long-term partnership.

“We know that not every store is in a position financially to invest in replacing their chillers, but our work in Amit’s store shows that not every change has to be as large as that to make a real difference. Crucially, this project highlights the importance of progression, not perfection.”

You can download the sustainability case study below

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