30% of Greene King managed pub kitchens now electric
A total of 473 Greene King pubs now operate without gas, and the company has also revealed further investments in sustainable infrastructure across its estate.
Almost a third of Greene King’s managed pub estate now has kitchens, as the pub operator pushes towards sustainability.
The Suffolk-based company, which has 2,600 sites across the UK, is making the switch to reduce fossil fuel use, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Almost a third of its managed pub estate now has electric and electric-ready kitchens as gas-powered kitchens are being replaced, and the use of electric vehicles is also ramping up.
This comes after research revealed consumers were going greener when dining out, with “sustainably-aware” UK diners spending around £9 more per month than the average consumer on eating and drinking out, while another survey by food software company Foodprint found nearly half (45%) of consumers saw a venue’s commitment to sustainability as an important part of deciding where to go and spend money.
A ‘collective effort’
Andrew Bush, chief experience officer at Greene King, said: “There has been a real collective effort from our pub teams and support centre teams to use more sustainable power sources, whether that’s in the vehicles they choose to drive, or the fuels used to cook customers’ meals.
“These behavioural and infrastructure changes can be led by the business and by individuals. We continue to look at our daily operations, working with our suppliers and offering our customers sustainable choices, as we progress towards net zero.”
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To date, 473 pub kitchens – approximately 30% of Greene King’s managed estate – are operating as fully electric, and the company is continuing to invest in voltage optimisation equipment to boost energy efficiency.
The redevelopment of Greene King’s new Middle Distribution Centre in Greater Manchester also includes solar panels, spanning 8,000 square metres, which will meet around 50% of the power needed when the depot is fully operational next year.
Move towards net zero
The equipment used to move and store products throughout the site is fully electric, with 565 tonnes of drink expected to pass through the depot doors per week.
Additionally, there are further advances in green transport with a new fleet of 22 Eco-Blue vehicles for Greene King’s property services and maintenance team, complete with 240V inverters to charge up power tools while driving between jobs.
These collective actions demonstrate Greene King’s ongoing progress towards its near-term target to halve all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero target of 2040, both of which are approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Last week, the operator announced it would remove all airfreighted ingredients from its menus by the end of the year, with drinks garnishes and infusions significantly contributing to environmental impact.
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