OurCoop named finalist for Sustainable Retailer of the Year
We’re delighted to announce that OurCoop has been named a finalist for Sustainable Retailer of the Year at the Retail Gazette Excellence Awards 2026.
The recognition celebrates the progress we’re making to put sustainability at the heart of our business – from generating more renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint, to tackling food waste and supporting community-owned energy projects.
Our sustainability programme is focused on practical action that can make a measurable difference across our family of businesses.
Renewable energy is a key part of this. We now have solar panels installed at more than 130 sites, with our solar carport at Stafford providing around 40% of the store’s total power. Over the past year, our solar installations generated around 4.7 GWh of renewable electricity and saved more than 800 tonnes of CO₂.
We’re also investing in large-scale renewable energy through long-term Corporate Power Purchase Agreements, including an agreement linked to the London Array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary. OurCoop led the first agreement on behalf of a consortium of five independent co-operatives, which can produce up to 56 GWh of green electricity each year.
Alongside generating and sourcing more renewable energy, we’re working to reduce the amount of energy we use. Our partnership with LoweConex has introduced automation and remote monitoring across heating and refrigeration systems in more than 200 food stores. Since 2024, this has reduced energy usage by 2.5 GWh and cut carbon emissions by more than 400 tonnes of CO₂.
Our approach to sustainability goes beyond reducing emissions. We’re also looking at how we can reduce waste and create positive impacts in the communities we serve.
Through our partnerships with food redistribution organisations including Olio and Too Good To Go, surplus food from our stores can reach people rather than going to waste.
Since our partnership with Olio began in 2024, 5.4 million grocery items that would otherwise have gone to waste have been redistributed from our food stores – equivalent to around four million meals. In total, this has saved more than 1,600 tonnes of surplus food from landfill and avoided 7.1 million kg of CO₂ emissions.
We’re also proud of the role we’re playing in helping communities take control of their own energy.
Through Younity, our joint venture with Octopus Energy, we support more than 380 renewable Power Purchase Agreements with 100 community energy organisations. Together, these projects generate enough clean electricity to power more than 65,000 homes.
For us, sustainability isn’t a standalone programme. As a member-owned business, it is part of our purpose, our governance and the way we make decisions and invest for the future.
From colleague engagement and supplier collaboration to environmental learning in our Little Pioneers nurseries, we’re working to embed sustainable thinking across OurCoop. At a local level, stores are also introducing initiatives such as bird and bat boxes, rain gardens and green spaces to support biodiversity and bring communities together.
Being named a finalist at the Retail Gazette Excellence Awards is recognition of the hard work of colleagues across OurCoop and the progress we’re making together.
We’re looking forward to celebrating alongside fellow finalists at the Retail Gazette Excellence Awards on 14 October 2026 – and we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for the Sustainable Retailer of the Year award.