, which came into force on October 1 and will run until March 31, 2023, the Government is offering businesses and all non-domestic customers a discount on wholesale gas. The support aims to be the equivalent of the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households. Household bills alone soared by 54 per cent during April 2022 and had been due to increase by 80 per cent, but the new Energy Price Guarantee limits the rise to 27 per cent. Co-op would not be drawn on the exact savings it will make over the next three years through the move. 'Energy-efficient business' A Co-op spokesman said: "We are trialling an energy-smart lighting initiative in a small number of our stores and are also reviewing how we can become a more energy-efficient business, without compromising safety and still achieving a positive store environment and shopping experience for our customers." The retailer previously indicated in its interim results in September that energy and wage inflation had a knock-on effect on the start of the year. Figures reveal the cost stood at around £50 million compared to H1 2021. The Co-op employs more than 62,000 people across the whole of its business and has an annual turnover of £11.5 billion. Businesses are looking at a number of ways to reduce energy usage, ranging from carrying out an energy audit, purchasing energy-efficient office equipment along with ensuring workplaces are correctly insulated. Energy bills are being made worse through a combination of wind){kind=link}
Food retailer is reducing lighting at 500 shops nationwide in a bid to manage it finances and become a ‘more energy-efficient business’
The Co-op is looking to curb the rising costs of its energy bills by dimming the lights across hundreds of its stores.
The fifth largest British food retailer, which has more than 2,500 local, convenience and medium-size stores, is trialling the measure in a bid to manage its finances.
Under the move, lighting is now being reduced at 500 shops nationwide.
Energy is one of Co-op’s highest operating costs and the price runs into the tens of millions of pounds.