Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Southern Co-op gets Queen's Award for Sustainable Development

Southern Co-op gets Queen's Award for Sustainable Development
Photo: iStock
Getty Images

Southern Co-op has been presented with the award for Sustainable Development as part of the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.

HM Lord-Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson Esq. of Hampshire visited the independent co-operative last week to praise it for its strong values and for continuing to achieve the Fair Tax Mark.


Its colleagues covering Southern Co-op’s sectors such as retail, coffee branches, head office and end of life services who were present at the ceremony were also thanked for their efforts.

The Southern Co-op’s current climate targets, set to be achieved by 2030 include reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from its direct operations by 50 percent.

Speaking at the event, the Lord-Lieutenant said, “This is a very special award presentation. Actually, it is the first time I have presented a sustainable development award. This is a really difficult award to achieve.

“I had no idea Southern Co-op was formed in Portsmouth in 1873. At that time, it was set up in response to societal change. It was a business to help people help themselves. Sadly, some of these issues still remain today and I’m pleased to see Southern Co-op is still here helping people.

“Of course, there are other challenges now with the changing climate and declining wildlife and your response comes through very strongly. It’s a great business. I am very pleased to read your values and being customer focused is clearly in your DNA.”

Mark Smith, chief executive of Southern Co-op, said, “The principles we have around sustainable development go all the way through our business so it is important that we celebrate this success with colleagues throughout our co-operative.

“Our third party partnerships are also important to us on this journey as we always achieve a lot more when we work with others.

“This award is an opportunity for us to celebrate where we have got to on our sustainable journey. This award recognises organisations, like our own, who have a true and genuine commitment to being responsible and sustainable, and how it’s truly embedded in business strategy, governance, management, culture, and day to day decision making.”

More for you

Brits ditch tea for G&T

Brits ditch tea for G&T

Nearly half of Brits (44%) say they would prefer a G&T to a cup of tea when getting together with friends, according to a new survey by spirits major Bacardi Limited.

The UK consumer survey was conducted as part of the sixth annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report which anticipates the key trends redefining global cocktail culture and the spirits business in 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tractors take to the streets of Westminster as demonstrators attend a farmers rally on November 19, 2024 in London, England. Thousands of farmers descended on central London to protest against changes to inheritance tax announced in the budget last month. The farmers argue that the changes will destroy family farms and that the nation's food security is at risk, while the government says that the change will likely affect only around 500 larger estate farms. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Tractors descend on Westminster as farmers protest begins

Thousands of British farmers today (19) are set to march to Parliament Square to protest against the end of an inheritance tax exemption that has helped family farms pass down the generations, saying the move will threaten food production.

First unveiled in chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget, the plans to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m have sparked fury among rural communities, who have contested the government’s assertion that small family farms will not be impacted by the changes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bestway launches Christmas 'Profit Express' campaign

Bestway launches Christmas 'Profit Express' campaign

Retailers are invited to board Bestway’s Profit Express’ train as Bestway Wholesale launches its major Christmas campaign to its B2B customers across its nationwide depots, allowing retailers to access to its leading festive deals to drive shopper footfall against the backdrop of the theatre. The campaign will be live until Thursday 2 January 2025 giving customers the elevated, engaging and high impact theatre they have become famous for over the last three years.

In collaboration with key suppliers, the ‘Profit Express’ festive campaign delivers all the magic of theatre and festive fun, ensuring exceptional visibility and engagement for its expected 80,000 retailers shopping the Christmas campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
imperial brands

Pricing and Next Generation Products surge boost Imperial Brands revenue and profits

Imperial Brands has reported a robust performance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, helped by strong cigarette prices and rise in its Next Generation Products (NGP) segment.

The group delivered a 4.6 per cent increase in tobacco and NGP net revenue on a constant currency basis, which reached £8.15 billion. This was driven by strong pricing in the tobacco segment, which offset a 4 per cent decline in volume, and a remarkable 26.4 per cent rise in NGP revenue.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves

Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Retail bosses warn of inflation and job losses from budget, seeks Reeves meeting

Britain's biggest retailers have written to finance minister Rachel Reeves to warn her that last month's budget will make both higher prices and job losses a certainty and dent investment.

The letter, coordinated by the British Retail Consortium trade body and signed by 79 retail bosses, including those at Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Next, Asda, Morrisons, Kingfisher, Amazon UK and Boots, called for a meeting with Reeves to discuss their concerns and work on a solution.

Keep ReadingShow less