OurCoop named Sustainable Retailer of the Year at Retail Gazette Excellence Awards
OurCoop has been named Sustainable Retailer of the Year at the Retail Gazette Excellence Awards, recognising our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, investing in renewable energy and supporting communities to build a more sustainable future.
The award reflects the work taking place across our Society, building on the strong foundations established by our three founding co-operatives and bringing together our scale and co-operative values to drive meaningful environmental change.
As the UK's largest independent co-operative Society, with more than one million Members and almost 500 food stores, we have an important role to play in making retail more sustainable. Our approach focuses on practical action across our operations, supply chain and communities.
Investing in renewable energy
Renewable energy is a key part of our sustainability strategy. Solar panels are now installed at more than 130 sites across our estate, generating around 4.7 GWh of renewable electricity over the past year and saving more than 800 tonnes of CO₂.
We are also investing in large-scale renewable electricity through a long-term Corporate Power Purchase Agreement linked to the London Array offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary. Led by OurCoop on behalf of a consortium of five independent co-operatives, the agreement can supply up to 56 GWh of green electricity annually.
Reducing energy use across our stores
Alongside generating and sourcing renewable electricity, we continue to invest in making our operations more energy efficient.
Our partnership with LoweConex uses automation and remote monitoring technology to improve heating, refrigeration and temperature controls across more than 200 food stores. Since 2024, this work has reduced energy use by 2.5 GWh, saved around £500,000 in electricity costs and cut carbon emissions by more than 400 tonnes.
Tackling food waste and supporting communities
Reducing food waste is another important priority. Through our partnership with Olio, we have redistributed 5.4 million grocery items since 2024, helping surplus food reach local households rather than go to waste. This has saved more than 1,600 tonnes of food from landfill.
Our commitment extends beyond our own operations. Through Younity, our joint venture with Octopus Energy, we support community energy organisations to develop renewable energy projects that enable local people to benefit from clean power. The partnership supports more than 380 renewable Power Purchase Agreements with 100 community energy organisations.
Building a more sustainable future together
Sustainability is embedded in our long-term strategy, from investment decisions and energy monitoring to colleague engagement and partnerships with suppliers and communities.
As a member-owned Society, we believe co-operation can help accelerate progress, bringing people and organisations together to create practical solutions that deliver lasting benefits.
Winning Sustainable Retailer of the Year is recognition of the work happening across OurCoop and the colleagues, partners and community organisations helping to make it happen.
We will continue building on this progress, expanding renewable generation, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste and finding new ways to support a greener future for the communities we serve.