MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu announced it is committing to have 300 stores divert 90% or more of their waste from local landfills by the end of the current fiscal year, Feb. 23, 2013 — an addition of nearly 250 stores to those that have already achieved that goal.
Supervalu announced during its Q4 earnings call last week that it had transitioned 54 stores to 90 percent waste diversion during the past year, exceeding its original target of 40 locations. The company’s goal is to achieve zero waste throughout the enterprise.
While the majority of efforts around waste diversion have been focused in the company’s Albertsons stores, the work has been expanded to Jewel-Osco and Shaw’s, and additional banners will pursue this status in the current fiscal year.
“Last year marked incredible progress in our zero waste efforts and we’re even more excited about what lies ahead,” said Craig Herkert, chief executive officer and president, Supervalu, in a statement. “Keeping waste out of landfills is better for the environment, better for our customers and better for the bottom line. It’s simply the right thing for us to do.”
A key part of Supervalu’s effort to eliminate waste is the Fresh Rescue program, which provides donations of fresh meats, produce and vegetables to community partners.