Manomet and Whole Foods Market announced today that all 28 Florida Whole Foods Market stores have been certified by Manomet’s Grocery Stewardship Certification (GSC) program, becoming the first grocery stores in the state. The GSC works with grocers to engage employees on operational sustainability strategies and to review store-level practices and equipment with an eye to increasing energy efficiency, boosting revenue and lowering costs. Whole Foods Market’s Florida region is now the grocer’s first U.S. region to enroll all of their stores in the program.
“We are proud to showcase our commitment to sustainability by enrolling in the Grocery Stewardship Certification program. There is no other program like this for the industry; the GSC covers all the bases—from employee engagement and education to energy usage and water conservation,” said Karen Doyle, Senior Maintenance and Facility Manager for Whole Foods Market’s Florida region. “Whole Foods Market is known as a mission-driven company that aims to set the standards of excellence for food retailers. By enrolling our entire region, we look forward to ensuring that all of our Florida stores are conserving resources and protecting our local communities whenever possible.”
The GSC recognizes the company’s commitment to operational best practices that reduce a store’s environmental impact and save resources. Manomet’s GSC provides participating independent grocers and grocery chains with data about costs saved through operational sustainability efforts; revenue-generating sustainability opportunities; employee engagement strategies; and metrics on waste, water, energy and other conservation initiatives. As a result of their sustainable operating practices, the 28 Florida Whole Foods Market stores enrolled in the GSC are annually saving:
More than $2.8 million, an average of $103,900 per store;
More than 1,900 tons of food waste from going to landfills;
More than 12 million gallons of water from being used; and
More than 35,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases from being released.
“We are excited to be expanding our partnership with Whole Foods Market,” said Peter Cooke, program manager of the GSC. “When a whole region of stores enrolls in our program, it allows us to give them a complete picture of the sustainability challenges they are facing and the successes and cost-savings they’ve already achieved through their efforts. The Florida Whole Foods Market stores are making sustainability a priority and it shows.”
Since launching in 2012, the GSC has enrolled more than 800 grocery stores in the United States and Canada. While there are a number of programs that focus on high performance buildings, Manomet’s GSC program is the only certification program to expand into employee practices and procedures to engage all stores within a chain. To learn more about the Grocery Stewardship Certification program, visit http://grocerycert.org/.