East of England Co-op wins award for waste reduction campaign

The East of England Co-op’s ‘Guide to Dating’ campaign has won the respected ‘Sustainable Futures’ award at the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) awards ceremony, held on Tuesday 2^nd October 2018. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements and business excellence across the food and grocery industry.

Launched last year, the ‘Co-op Guide to Dating’ saw East Anglia’s largest independent retailer take the food retail industry by storm in with their fight against food waste, becoming the first major retailer to sell products past their Best Before date, for just 10p.

The Sustainable Futures category highlights businesses that have confronted challenges and developed initiatives to help create a more sustainable future.

Following a rigorous judging process, the East of England Co-op was chosen as the “unanimous” winner of the Sustainable Futures category, whose other shortlisted entrants included Coca-Cola and Aldi.

Roger Grosvenor, Joint Chief Executive at the East of England Co-op, said: “To say we are proud to have won this award, and to have received such recognition from our industry, would be an understatement.

“Co-op Guide to Dating is a simple premise that is already making a hugely positive contribution towards reducing food waste and ensuring perfectly edible food stays in our food chain for longer.

“Customers are perfectly willing to try these products, with reduced items flying off the shelves within hours. As retailers it is our responsibility to ensure we provide customers with the opportunity to make choices that support a more sustainable future for all.

“The East of England Co-op has never been afraid to try new things, always looking at the small things we can do that make a big difference to our communities, and this is a fantastic way to celebrate our 150^th anniversary year.”

For further information on the IGD Awards visit: www.igd.com/events/igd-awards.

For more information about the East of England Co-op please visit: www.eastofengland.coop. 

Photo: (L-R) Nick Bunker from category sponsors Pladis Global, East of England Co-op Joint Chief Executive Roger Grosvenor, East of England Co-op President Sally Chicken and the IGD Awards host Katie Derham)