Sir, The Grocer’s recent Goodness Issue showcased the very best of our industry, from championing ethical retail to collaborative efforts to combat carbon footprints, plastic packaging and food waste.
It rightly shone on a spotlight on the transformative work being delivered by businesses to generate positive environmental and social impact. As a sector that touches so many aspects of people’s lives, it is no longer enough for food and drink businesses to simply generate profit. Societal and environmental good can no longer be an afterthought but must be integrated into a business’ core operation.
To achieve real and lasting impact, these laudable initiatives must aim to change mindsets, encourage a fresh look at age-old challenges and disrupt the status quo. For example, Company Shop Group’s approach has always been to question whether it is inevitable that stock written off as waste must go to waste, or if it could be redistributed.
Similarly, a key theme that emerged from our recent parliamentary panel event on sustainability, attended by many industry leaders, was the importance of collaboration. This must be between industry peers, across supply chains, and from field to fork.
It is beholden on all of us to work together if we are to meet our ambitious food waste targets, and indeed various other sustainability challenges, and this collaboration will ensure that benefits are enjoyed across the industry and society more broadly.
Jane Marren, MD, Company Shop Group
No comments yet