Mayo SuperValu store achieves 59 percent carbon reduction

SuperValu Ballyhaunis has achieved a 59 percent carbon reduction since implementing sustainable initiatives over the last year. 

As part of the significant store investment, SuperValu Ballyhaunis has incorporated a number of sustainability upgrades to enhance the efficiency of the store. This includes the upgrading of refrigerators and freezers and the installation of LED lighting and Electric Shelf Edge Labels (eSELs).

In addition to this, 282 solar panels have been installed at the store in the last few months, which is the equivalent of powering 23 homes a year.

_{Karen Kilbane, Store Manager, Jason McGoldrick, Trainee Manager, and Jeff Nolan, Nolan’s SuperValu Ballyhaunis (Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure)}

Supplementing these energy efficiencies, the store offers organic and eco-offerings to the forefront for customers, providing an enhanced organic section, loose fruit and vegetables, plant-based section, Taste of Local section, a reduced to clear section, a sustainability champion member of staff, bike rack and segregated recycling bins.

SuperValu Ballyhaunis is also very active in the local community, supporting Ballyhaunis GAA Club, Tooreen Hurling Club, St Jarlath’s GAA Club as well as the local Tidy Towns campaign with the Ballyhaunis store investing around €20,000 in local initiatives annually.

Jeff Nolan of SuperValu Ballyhaunis said: “At SuperValu Ballyhaunis, we are acutely aware of the responsibility that rests with all of us in relation to climate action, both individually and collectively. Mr Nolan said the changes made in store were done so ‘because of the store's revamp’ and ‘sustainability fund investment’. He said this is what aided them in achieving a 59 percent carbon reduction. 

“For example, we have installed new freezers with plug in units. We look forward to building on these actions and making every day real sustainable action accessible for our loyal customers. As a community hub, we are committed to reaching Net Zero by 2040, and we will continue to enhance sustainability measures across our store to play our part,” he added.

To date, a total of 71 SuperValu stores have installed over 25,100 solar panels, generating enough electricity to power 2,115 homes in Ireland per year. 100 SuperValu stores will have solar panels by the end of 2025.  

SuperValu retailers have achieved an estimated 12 percent carbon reduction in stores across the country over the last 2 years because of the Musgrave Sustainability Fund. 

Luke Hanlon, Interim Managing Director of SuperValu and Centra, said their stores are ‘at the heart of communities around Ireland’, and they are ‘proud’ to have shown ‘real passion and enthusiasm to continue to lead by example and implement sustainability measures’.  

“The average percentage of the total electricity usage that comes from solar panels per store is between 15 and 20 percent. We are on track and are seeing constant efficiencies and improvements being made across our retail network.  

“Consumers want us to do more, and we are focused on doing this and working with our retail partners to make every community a sustainable community. We want to make a real-lasting legacy for generations to come,” he continued.

In June 2022, Musgrave, the parent company of SuperValu, announced the first of its kind €25 million sustainability fund aimed at realising this target and reducing emissions across its operations, ultimately to achieve net-zero by 2040. To do so, Musgrave is aiming to achieve a 46 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.