Speciality-Food-Magazine-March-2025

5 specialityfoodmagazine.com it because sustainability has “moved frombeing a fringe concern, to the cornerstone of a winning business strategy”. Gen Z are becoming a key part of the independent retail picture, and will continue to be influential as their spending power increases, Richard continues. WHAT CAN RETAILERS DO TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE? There are lots of opportunities for independents such as farm shops and delis to make a change and lead from the front on sustainability initiatives, says Richard. “For example, they can do this by reducing packaging waste, encouraging and incentivising customers to use scales and their own containers for loose produce, deli items andmeats, or by replacing plastic bags with paper or compostable, recyclable alternatives.” Specialist retailers can also work with shorter supply chains. “This makes good sense, because it supports local farmers and producers, and creates an opportunity for independents to really engage with their local communities.” You could go a step further, T he modern consumer in speciality retail demands so muchmore from the stores they choose to visit. As well as expecting a cornucopia of the very best ingredients and produce, and personable, knowledgeable service, they’re taking businesses’ claims around sustainability muchmore seriously. A report released by FMCG Gurus revealed 32% of shoppers wanted to avoid ingredients that could be harmful to the environment while, according to Euromonitor, 60% of consumers are choosing to buy food in a more planet positive way. They said they wanted to see more ethical sourcing, lower carbon footprints, and thoughtfulness around social and environmental causes. “Spending on sustainable products remains a conscious decision based on personal values,” says Inga Klebanskaja, senior research consultant at Euromonitor. She adds that sustainability today is a “prerequisite for innovation that drives growth”. WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN IN RETAIL? There are lots of things to consider, from choosing brands with a lower carbon footprint, to those that arrive inminimal packaging or that offer a packaging return system, or even helping the growth of the local economy by supporting the Living Wage and improving the lives of your employees. he adds, by promoting these products with enhanced signage, discounts and sampling to put them front and centre of your offering. “Or host pop-up events to inform environmentally conscious consumers about the sustainable food choices in store and what they can personally do.” There are financial benefits, says the Carbon Charter, to becoming more eco-friendly. According to the organisation, for example, cutting 20% of your energy cost could improve your profits by as much as 5%. Advice from them includes: Looking at lighting – Installing LED lights is instantly energy saving, and as they give off less heat, there’s a reduced need for cooling. The bulbs last longer too. Consider also installing occupancy sensors in areas such as corridors and storage rooms to ensure lights are only on when they’re occupied. Heating and cooling – Balance your office, storeroom and shop floor temperatures to outside conditions and set controls to match requirements throughout the day. Consider a dead band setting of 3C between heating and air conditioning RichardWerren, BSI’s global director for food and retail, says he thinks the “penny has dropped” in the sector. “Independent retailers realise sustainabilitymeans something to consumers and is here to stay. Today’s consumers are well-informed, and our research shows that 62% globally now look for sustainability claims when buying products.” If you’re taking the issue seriously, he continues, there’s a brilliant opportunity to engage with shoppers who are voting with their wallets towards ‘greener’ retail. Speciality retail’s superpower is speed, Richard adds. “Independents can implement changes much faster thanmajor retailers, and in a competitive market that’s a big advantage. Furthermore, research by Faire shows that 41% of consumers believe independent retailers provide better customer service as well as offering better quality andmore interesting products (35%).” The trick, Richard says, is to tell not only stories around products, but also about how your own business is run. If you’re cutting back on waste, championing local sourcing and using green energy, shout out about How to be a sustainable retailer Those working in the fine food world can no longer just pay lip service to sustainability, it’s something consumers are increasingly expecting them to be on top of to ensure they’re not running at the same time. And heat reflective glass and awnings over large display windows can also reduce unwanted heat gain in summer. Refrigeration – Save money by scheduling regular maintenance of in store fridges. Avoid overcrowding fridge shelves to help them run better, and consider insulating covers or sliding doors to retain a consistent temperature. Overnight, you might think about using night blinds or aerofoil technology to reduce the loss of chilled air. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE RETAIL? Richard thinks tomorrow’s retail world will be shaped and defined by a shift to more sustainable ways of working in order to meet rising consumer expectations. It must become, for independents “a defining pillar of their retail strategy, with eco-friendly practices built into all aspects of their business operations”. In the UK new regulatory and compliance frameworks supporting this shift are likely to be another driver, he adds. There’s a lot of talk around AI too, being used as an enabling tool and Richard thinks it will have a part to play in improving sustainability through accurate forecasting, improved stock management, supply chain transparency and energy efficiency. “All of these will play a part in the future of the sector.”