While all things sustainability understandably fell down the agenda during the Covid crisis and aftermath, planet concerns are once again bubbling up to the surface.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, it was clear that sustainability was set to be a huge issue and have a major impact on retailers and how they do business. The world being turned upside down, however, saw the focus shift – quite understandably – to arguably more pressing concerns.
As the legacy of the pandemic continues to wane, however, and the economy shows signs of finally turning around, it’s likely that sustainability will once more begin bubbling up the priority list.
But what can retailers do to help their customers make better choices for the planet?
One option is to help drive the vegan and vegetarian agenda, as well as cashing in on the growing number of consumers looking to live a meat-free or meat-lite lifestyle.
Quorn is the number one meat-free brand in the UK and has long been making the environmental case for a reduction in the consumption of animal products as a way of reducing carbon emissions.
Gill Riley, Consumer Director at Quorn Foods UK, comments: “Our role as a meat-free market pioneer includes supporting our retail partners with their own sustainability goals, helping them take important steps on the journey to reach them.
“Quorn maintains a sustained focus on sustainability in everything we do, and we work hard to continuously highlight this to shoppers.”
Riley says Quorn sets climate targets for itself and measures the climate impact of its products and operations, something it has been doing for over 10 years now.
“We have continuously been a spearhead for sustainability in the food industry, adding carbon footprint labels to all our products back in 2020,” she says. “And that’s before you even look at the product itself. All our products are made using Quorn mycoprotein, a unique super-protein that uses 90% less land and water and produces 98% less carbon emissions than beef mince. It’s also nutritionally beneficial, high in fibre, high in protein, low in saturated fat and packed full of amino acids.”
With summer on the horizon, it’s perhaps a good time to give your shoppers a nudge in a positive direction by listing a bigger range of vegan and vegetarian lines in your store.
Quorn is a brand most shoppers are familiar with and offers an extensive range of products including Quorn Crispy Nuggets, the UK’s number one meat-free nuggets [Circana, Dec 2023]. There’s also everything from Quorn Cocktail Sausages and Picnic Eggs to Quorn Mince, Sausages, Steak Strips and Swedish Style Balls.
“Quorn frozen has had more than two years of consecutive growth for value which highlights the importance of stocking it to retailers,” says Riley.
Big change
As well as helping shoppers make changes for the better, retailers can also rely on major suppliers working hard in the background to ensure that the carbon footprints of the products they already sell are heading in the right direction.
Matt Collins, Sales Director at KP Snacks, says: “Sustainability is a crucial factor influencing consumer trends as shoppers become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their purchases. At KP Snacks, we understand that as a leader in the Crisps, Snacks and Nuts category, we have a responsibility to drive change.
“Since 2014, KP Snacks has removed 1,100 tonnes of plastic packaging across its portfolio, in line with its commitment to use as little plastic packaging as possible. This year, we announced the introduction of 25% recycled content packaging across our popular Tyrrells sharing range. The new packaging initiative incorporates recycled soft plastics to reduce reliance on virgin plastics for packaging.
“In January we announced a further investment in flow wrap equipment to reduce plastic packaging across three of our popular Everyday Value brands: Discos, Roysters and Frisps. This investment has resulted in a 35% plastic packaging reduction for 6-packs across these three brands, equivalent to 100 tonnes of packaging saved annually. The new process means 620 fewer lorry journeys will be required annually, with more products able to be transported at once, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
