Weis Markets Ups Sustainability Efforts While Expanding Reach
Report shows retailer reduced environmental footprint during historic time of growth
Weis Markets expanded its customer base and footprint by more than 25% in 2016 while still managing to grow its sustainability efforts.
The Sunbury, Pa.-based retailer outlined its efforts in its Weis Sustainability 2016: Growing Greener and Investing in Our Future report.
Since launching its sustainability efforts in 2008, Weis has incorporated energy-saving measures designed to lower energy consumption, fossil fuel dependence and carbon emissions. These sustainability initiatives have helped the retailer to reduce its carbon footprint in its existing stores by 25.4% as of mid-2016.
After acquiring 44 new stores over a three-month period in 2016, Weis expanded its footprint to 204 stores in seven states. As part of that acquisition, Weis also expanded its sustainability programs into all its locations, implementing key sustainability practices that reduce emissions in new store design and remodels, expanding the company’s recycling center and fuel efficiency of its vehicles, and growing the Fresh Rescue Program. These newly acquired stores slightly lessened the company’s carbon footprint reduction to a total of 21.8% for 2016, as the stores continue to be retrofitted with key sustainability measures.