Ratio Institute

Upgrade your store and reduce operating costs with U.S.D.A. REAP Grants! The recent Inflation Reduction Act added $1.7 billion to existing REAP funds, allowing the U.S.D.A. to increase its funding limits. Those limits are expected to decrease back to 25% in October 2024. Act now to maximize funding while you reduce operational costs, make a positive impact on the environment, and ensure your store is compliant with refrigerant hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gas phase down requirements. https://hubs.li/Q02sYHjy0

USDA REAP Grant Technical Assistance with Ratio Institute - Ratio Institute Apply for a USDA REAP grant with the help of Ratio Institute. Fund energy efficiency and refrigeration upgrades in your independent grocery store with substantial funds from the USDA.

A USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant may be the answer to upgrading your store's energy efficiency. If you are an independent grocer looking to make improvements to your HVAC or refrigeration systems, upgrade to LED lights, or even install solar panels, the USDA may be willing to fund up to 50% of project costs. The best part? Ratio Institute can help you apply and do the heavy lifting of the grant application! https://hubs.li/Q02qbJFY0

USDA REAP Grant Technical Assistance with Ratio Institute - Ratio Institute Apply for a USDA REAP grant with the help of Ratio Institute. Fund energy efficiency and refrigeration upgrades in your independent grocery store with substantial funds from the USDA.

CVS Health now has five total renewable energy investments, including two separate long-term agreements to purchase energy and renewable energy certificates (RECs) with Constellation, as they continue to work toward sourcing 50% renewable energy by 2040. These two agreements represent a total 264,000 megawatt-hours: the equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 1,000 CVS Health locations in California; Washington, D.C.; Delaware; Maryland; and New Jersey.

CVS Makes Progress on Its Renewable Energy Mission Investments with Constellation will reduce company's carbon footprint by nearly 114,000 metric tons annually

United Natural Foods, Inc., (UNFI) released its 13th annual Better for All Report, achieving some large steps towards its sustainability goals. UNFI added its eighth solar array in New Jersey and plans construction on an even larger one for a distribution center in California this coming year. In an effort to reduce food waste, UNFI started a Reverse Logistics Disposition Reporting system that enables better visibility over the journeys of unsold products. Combining that technology with food donations, UNFI is “on track” to completing achieving zero waste to landfills from distribution centers by 2030.
https://hubs.li/Q02fG6_k0

UNFI is cleaner, more efficient at distribution centers And more progress is expected throughout 2024

Our Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard is gaining recognition as a framework for communicating sustainability metrics. It is thrilling to lead the adoption of sustainable practices in the food retail industry as more grocers begin to embrace the metrics. Grocers are uniquely positioned as powerful agents of change due to their control over the supply chain and ability to influence manufacturers and suppliers to adopt more sustainable practices. As retailers, they are also educators, helping consumers make more informed choices by providing product information such as carbon ratings. https://hubs.li/Q02cHynk0

Green and Profitable: Role Grocery Retailers Play In Embracing Sustainability Metrics Grocers play a pivotal role in elevating ESG standards in the industry; selecting the appropriate sustainability metrics aligning with the industry standards serve as a key differentiator for grocers aiming to enhance sustainability practices and set a higher benchmark.

ESG reporting is gaining recognition over the years as companies across industries realize how ESG commitments can mitigate risk along the supply chain, leading to better financial performance and long-term sustainability and resilience. The Thomson Reuters Institute has published The 2023 State of Corporate ESG, which indicates that businesses are looking to invest and integrate solutions to meet international regulations and keep updated with ESG globally. https://hubs.li/Q02byv3C0

The 2023 State of Corporate ESG: How companies are embracing ESG for resilience and growth - Thomson Reuters Institute A new report looks at companies' need to address ESG risks and obligations, which has become even more essential for business sustainability.

Thank you Grocery Dive for covering the release of our 2023 ESG State of the Industry Report. Consistent and impactful reporting can give organizations the punch needed to communicate their values, goals, and progress.

As you'll see in the report, best-in-class companies exhibit greater market share, higher return on invested capital, lower operational costs, higher employee engagement, and are less impacted by regulatory requirements.

https://hubs.li/Q027qS6D0

How grocers can boost their ESG reporting A new analysis of 82 food retailers identifies gaps in how companies share progress and goals on environmental, social and corporate governance issues — and gives advice for improvements. 

We are proud to release the 2023 ESG State of the Industry Report following the success of our 2022 edition. This report utilizes publicly available information from North America's largest food retailers to evaluate the transparency of sustainability reporting. The evaluation is based on criteria from our Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard. The ESG State of the Industry Report will be updated annually to track industry trends.

We invite you to download the report to see where the industry is leading in reporting and the exciting opportunities food retailers have to improve reporting, processes, operational performance, and profitability.

Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard The Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard covers key aspects of a high quality ESG report, including how to define targets and report on topics like, Governance & Risk Management, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Labor, Human Rights, & DEI & Sustainable Supply Chain/Sourcing.

Albertsons 2023 ESG report touts measurable action towards operational sustainability including reducing carbon emissions by 21% between 2019 and 2022 and completing more than 1,100 energy-efficiency projects across its operations in 2022 to reduce energy demand. https://hubs.li/Q023zLpp0

Albertsons releases 2023 ESG report The company reduced carbon emissions in operations by 21% between 2019 and 2022

Staying on top of the food retail sustainability game takes innovation and commitment, and we are highly impressed how grocers like Kroger, Sprouts, and New Seasons have introduced new initiatives this year to expand their efforts and become leaders in sustainability! Thank you Grocery Dive for continuously showcasing food retail sustainability!

How grocers have gotten creative with their sustainability efforts so far in 2023 Food retailers have deployed a variety of tactics this year, from rolling out upcycled private label products to introducing new recycling initiatives, as they look to become more eco-friendly.

There is a bigger spotlight on ESG reporting across all sectors- and we are strong advocates for this in food retail as well. We have a multitude of resources for food retailers looking to invest in the ESG reporting. These resources all tie into Reporting with Purpose. We define this as systematic, consistent, comprehensive reporting and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data across a clearly defined set of criteria, with a genuine intention for process, performance, and profit improvement. https://hubs.li/Q0233M_J0

Why ESG Reporting Is Important for the Food Retail Industry - Ratio Institute There is overwhelming evidence that strong ESG performance drives profits. Strong ESG performance can improve financial performance through numerous pathways, such as enhancing returns on capital investments, strengthening community and government relations, and increasing worker productivity and mo...

A materiality assessment should be considered a living document. Given that company circumstances, stakeholder priorities, and sustainability trends are continually changing, a company should review its materiality assessment at least every year and make adjustments if necessary. Every several years, the company should complete a new comprehensive assessment.

We have the inside track to materiality assessments and the crucial part they play in ESG for food retailers!
https://hubs.li/Q022B6FP0

While materiality assessments provide value for companies in any industry, they’re particularly valuable in the food retail sector. Food retailers face a large number of distinct ESG issues—avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions, food waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, human rights, supply chains, and energy efficiency. They also operate numerous sites across different geographical regions, and the ESG issues may vary from region to region. Given limited resources, these factors can make it difficult for a food retailer to focus and prioritize efforts.

A materiality assessment directly addresses this challenge by producing a list of a company’s priority ESG issues, ranked in order of importance. The ranked list can serve as a starting point for developing ESG strategies and implementing ESG initiatives in a systematic manner.

https://hubs.li/Q01_FR3j0

What Materiality Assessments Are and Why Food Retail Companies Need to Take Them Seriously - Ratio Institute A materiality assessment identifies and prioritizes the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues that matter most to a company and its stakeholders. It gathers input from internal and external stakeholders to define how and why these issues are important—both quantitatively and qualitati...

What does it look like to complete our Sustainable Food Retail Certification?

🍎 Recognition as a sustainability leader and earn differentiation in the market
🥦 Store-level visibility to address opportunities to reduce cost and increase margins
🥕 Consistent performance tracking across stores, allowing transparency and risk mitigation
🧀 Systematize sustainability management across your portfolio
🥫 Benchmark ESG performance along a clear path for improvement

Take a note from Weis Markets, who recently certified their portfolio of nearly 200 stores. The insights they gained are directly tied to profit savings and measurable GHG reduction.

Sustainability Certification for Food Retail Our Sustainable Food Retail Certification can help your supermarkets or groceries achieve operational excellence & meet sustainability goals.

We are working diligently on the 2023 ESG State of the Industry Report. We are evaluating the ESG reports of privately and publicly held food retail companies to discover reporting trends in the industry, where companies are succeeding, and how food retailers can expand their ESG reports. While you wait for the 2023 edition, review the 2022 edition! https://hubs.li/Q01-KYW70

Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard The Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard covers key aspects of a high quality ESG report, including how to define targets and report on topics like, Governance & Risk Management, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Labor, Human Rights, & DEI & Sustainable Supply Chain/Sourcing.

Why should every food retailer complete a materiality assessment?
▶️It can yield valuable data and insights to inform a company-wide long-term sustainability strategy along with effective ESG reporting practices to support that strategy.
▶️It can increase transparency with stakeholders (such as internal company departments and suppliers), cultivate collaboration opportunities with them, and identify resources to be harnessed in ESG and sustainability initiatives.
▶️It can enhance insurability.

What Materiality Assessments Are and Why Food Retail Companies Need to Take Them Seriously - Ratio Institute A materiality assessment identifies and prioritizes the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues that matter most to a company and its stakeholders. It gathers input from internal and external stakeholders to define how and why these issues are important—both quantitatively and qualitati...

Add to "things I learned for the first time today." The vending machines outside of grocery stores that dispense DVDs are temperature controlled, meaning they are pumped full of cool air to prevent damage to the DVDs. That cold air costs money, and can deeply cut into a food retailer's profits. Is it time to cut the cord to these vending machines in the spirit of operational sustainability? https://hubs.li/Q01Z17Ns0

How Vending Machines Erode Food Retailer Profits - Ratio Institute Assuming an electricity cost of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, we estimate that a beverage vending machine, placed outdoors, has an annual electricity cost of $613. Consider this $613 as lost profit. For a grocery store chain with 100 outdoor vending machines, the profit loss would be $61,300.

The inaugural ESG State of the Industry Report was first released last year. This first-of-its-kind report evaluated 107 private and public food retail companies on their ESG reports and respective trends in ESG reporting across the industry. Before the 2023 report is released later this year, read the 2022 version for the best insights on how the grocery industry stands with reporting.

Food Retail ESG Reporting - Ratio Institute Use Ratio Institute's practical tools for food retail ESG reporting and metrics. Utilize the Food Retail ESG Reporting Standard to benchmark food retail ESG goals. Our State of the Industry report highlights reporting trends in the industry and how food retail can utilize ESG reporting for improved....

Weis Markets and Hannaford Supermarkets recently completed our Sustainable Food Retail Certification. This program helps food retails meet sustainability goals by individually benchmarking all stores under the banner to get a comprehensive view. We review 17 core practice areas, including energy efficiency, refrigerants, and supply chain. These results can help a food retailer:
-Earn recognition with consumers, employees and board members
-Reduce costs and increase profit margins
-Mitigate risk
-Streamline sustainability
-Validate ESG performance

Ready to start your journey?

Sustainability Certification for Food Retail Our Sustainable Food Retail Certification can help your supermarkets or groceries achieve operational excellence & meet sustainability goals.

The future is electric! Electric vehicles are within reach with rebates. Embrace the clean energy future by purchasing or leasing a pre-owned electric vehicle with rebates up to $4,000 from PG&E’s Pre-Owned EV Rebate. Learn how you can save on an EV now! https://hubs.li/Q01T_3L40

Congratulations to Hannaford Supermarkets Store Manager of the Year, Mike Capsalis. Mike is also a Luminary of our Sustainable Food Retail Certification. This means he has integrated operational sustainability at his store and is invested in promoting net zero carbon, sustainable and ethical supply chains and other elements of the certification. https://hubs.li/Q01TyV270

Hannaford Supermarkets Names Store Manager Of The Year Scarborough, Maine-based Hannaford Supermarkets has named Mike Capsalis as its 2023 "Store Manager of the Year."

It's not too late to join us tomorrow for an in depth webinar detailing the HFC transition for food retailers. This will be an insightful discussion for grocery stores of any size and location! https://hubs.li/Q01NMFSN0

In April, Ratio Institute began a partnership with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) and California Grocers Association (CGA) to pilot the delivery of the Sustainable Food Retail Certification through Dr. Ricky Volpe's Agribusiness class. Student-led teams will perform onsite visits and delivery of the Certification at eight San Luis Obispo stores with the the goal of identifying more than $500,000 in profit improvement and 3,600 tons of emissions reduction opportunities. The pilot program is a proof-of-concept for a greater partnership and program with Cal Poly and CGA to provide a "Learn by Doing" experience for students and to provide best sustainability workplace practices to the retailers to improve profits, reduce emissions, and further enhance their respective community stewardship.

Prepare your store for the HFC transition with our latest webinar on May 17th! We'll discuss how to take control of refrigerant management while also driving process, performance, and profit improvement. We will take an in depth look at immediate action steps grocers can take to determine site level strategies, drive immediate profit improvement, and increase return on invested capital. https://hubs.li/Q01NMyrn0

Join us on May 17th for our next webinar detailing how food retailers can prepare their stores for the HFC Transition. Food retailers have a unique opportunity to to drive operational and technological innovation and rethink how to implement, improve, and upgrade their cooling needs. We will take an in depth look at immediate action steps grocers can take to determine site level strategies, drive immediate profit improvement, and increase return on invested capital. https://hubs.li/Q01NMsX-0

Following the passage of the AIM Act (2020), mandating the phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 85% by 2036, food retailers have a unique opportunity to to drive operational and technological innovation and rethink how to implement, improve, and upgrade their cooling needs.

Join our co-founder, Jonathan Tan, for this interactive webinar as he discusses how to take control of refrigerant management while also driving process, performance, and profit improvement. We will take an in depth look at immediate action steps grocers can take to determine site level strategies, drive immediate profit improvement, and increase return on invested capital.

https://hubs.li/Q01MR-FS0

Dealing with food waste is a top priority for many grocers to achieve ESG goals. Ahold Delhaize talked with Supermarket News to share some tactics they're implementing to drastically cut down on food waste. Ahold Delhaize wants to cut food waste by 32% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. Their tactics include launching a "HowGood" label program to provide product sustainability ratings, and advancing traceability.

Podcast: Here's how Ahold Delhaize USA is winning at food waste Ahold Delhaize USA wants to cut food waste by 32% at its stores by 2025 and 50% by 2030. Here's how they're doing it

We are proud to partner with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Dr. Ricky Volpe's class for experiential learning for their students. Next week, Jonathan Tan will be joining classes to discuss operational sustainability in the food retail sector. Students will be joining him for a walk-through of a local grocery store to discuss opportunities for improvement.

Sprouts Farmers Market will end the use of single use plastic bags by the end of this year. Their commitment to do away with single-use plastic bags will remove over 200 million of the bags from circulation each year. This closely aligns with their ESG goals and commitment to sustainability. Reported via Grocery Dive. https://hubs.li/Q01Lb-0L0

Sprouts to trash use of single-use plastic bags by end of year The grocer has already eliminated the sacks at 132 of its California locations and plans to do the same at its stores in Nevada, Utah, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia starting next month.

This Wednesday, join us for a webinar to discover how food retailers can save $15,000 with simple, no cost workplace practices. These are checklist items that can be easily implemented at any grocery store of any size. Hear from our panel of experts as we review the practice areas and how efficient operational practices result in a ratchet effect on gross profits for grocers.

https://hubs.ly/Q01HH_jM0