How Spinneys is delivering on its ‘Better Together’ motto

From being one of the first retailers in Dubai to ban single-use plastic carrier bags to launching its Farm to Table programme, educating over 100,000 individuals about healthy and sustainable diets, and tackling climate change UAE-based food and grocery major Spinneys continues to grow while investing in its people, partnerships and communities.

Spinneys at a glance

• 4,000+ colleagues
• 75+ stores across the UAE and Oman
• Open the first 4 stores in Saudi Arabia in 2024
• Operates 3 vertically integrated manufacturing facilities
• 800+ suppliers in 38 markets
• Supports 11+ local & organic growers through Spinneys UAE Farmers’ Club

A quick look at ESG milestones

Starting with environmental responsibility, Spinneys has saved 484 tonnes of single-use plastics from checkouts annually by eliminating single-use carrier bags in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, ahead of regulation. It has reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by 22 metric tonnes by introducing locally manufactured recycled plastic packaging.

The brand has launched a solar panel programme across its owned properties, providing 10% of power requirements for its owned properties, and heating and cooling of its stores. Notably, in 2021, Spinneys opened its first sustainable concept store.

Spinneys remains committed to supporting communities wherever it operates. For instance, its store network donates to food redistribution charities daily, through partnerships with the UAE Food Bank and Emirates Red Crescent. With an aim to empower local businesses, Spinneys launched the Local Business Incubator Programme in 2020 through which, so far, 26 local businesses are listed with the brand.

Further, Spinneys has expanded the traceability of its beef supply chain in relation to deforestation to ensure 100% coverage by the end of 2024.

The road ahead

A firm believer that ESG is a continuous journey, Spinneys has outlined several commitments to stay on track to achieve net zero emissions for its own operations by 2040.

In this context, Sunil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Spinneys stated, “As a retailer with longstanding roots in this region, we feel a great responsibility to reduce our emissions and contribute to the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 target. We have therefore set ourselves a Net Zero emissions target for our operations by 2040.”

Some of its ESG commitments include:

• Fully establish the Sustainable Sourcing Policy Framework by 2025.
• Increase fresh organic produce range count to 20% of SpinneysFOOD products by 2025, to make it easier for customers to find and buy organic.
• Reduce food waste across its operations by 50% by 2030, from a 2019 baseline.
• Reduce water consumption in its own operations by 20% by 2030, from a 2022 baseline.
• Reach 1 million individuals through Spinneys’ Farm to Table Programme, created to raise awareness about healthy and sustainable diets, by the end of 2030

Note: Information has been sourced from Spinneys Sustainability Commitment Report 2024.