SUSTAINABILITY
OUR COMMITMENT
For many years now, sustainability has become a primary concern for Finiper brands. 2023 was the year that marked a turning point: we started thinking about it as a group, devising a bespoke function and drafting a sustainability plan.
Our goal is trying to contribute to a better future for everyone – every action is geared towards walking our project’s talk.
To do so, we started from our one of our tenets, one that always set our company apart and that drives every single action we take: making quality accessible to everyone. This concept goes beyond the mere economic aspect; it embraces tangible and cultural actions, and embodies the possibilities of choice and inclusion.
Hence, the four fundamental pillars of our Sustainability Plan, which define our main ESG action framework. Food culture, communities, people, environment and future. Each underpins some of the projects already being pursued by some of our brands, as well as future initiatives.
Let's take a closer look.
Our goal is trying to contribute to a better future for everyone – every action is geared towards walking our project’s talk.
To do so, we started from our one of our tenets, one that always set our company apart and that drives every single action we take: making quality accessible to everyone. This concept goes beyond the mere economic aspect; it embraces tangible and cultural actions, and embodies the possibilities of choice and inclusion.
Hence, the four fundamental pillars of our Sustainability Plan, which define our main ESG action framework. Food culture, communities, people, environment and future. Each underpins some of the projects already being pursued by some of our brands, as well as future initiatives.
Let's take a closer look.
FOOD CULTURE
Ever since the first hypermarket came to life 50 years ago, Finiper Group set the goal of propagating a practical food culture. It's something of paramount importance that we want to transmit to our customers with our everyday in-store activity, to give them the chance to shop for groceries in an ever more aware fashion. For example, Iper sells a huge variety of baked goods, as well as fresh bread – locally baked and made with simple ingredients and a straightforward process. Also, when we set up fruit and vegetables stalls, we arrange them in a simple and descriptive fashion, so as to help our customers make a more sustainable and conscious choice based on seasonality.
Educating to food culture
In our Sustainability Plan, we intend to increment direct communication with our customers to guide them towards more sustainable choices in buying, preserving, and using groceries for their recipes. Now more than ever, Finiper Group, set itself the goal of a diversified offer for each brand, pushing for farm-to-table produce from farmers, selling them to other group stores to share the wholesome local food with everyone.
Looking after the food chain
We have always paid close attention in the selection of ingredients for our customers. Over the years, we have implemented relevant actions to ensure a responsible, qualitative food chain.
Where possible, we prioritise locally-grown products and showcase the excellence of the local communities our stores work with. The constant search for the best products our land can offer brought about several projects:
The il Viaggiator Goloso® brand is a wonderful example of careful product selection. Not only does it keep an eye on quality and accessibility, but it is also a way to let the best ingredients shine through in our minimally-processed products.
Where possible, we prioritise locally-grown products and showcase the excellence of the local communities our stores work with. The constant search for the best products our land can offer brought about several projects:
The il Viaggiator Goloso® brand is a wonderful example of careful product selection. Not only does it keep an eye on quality and accessibility, but it is also a way to let the best ingredients shine through in our minimally-processed products.
A constant effort towards a careful selection of the supply chain and its products goes hand in hand with paying close attention to packaging. Where possible, we try to set an example by using biodegradable and compostable, or mono-material plastic packaging to limit environmental impacts.
Grandi Vigne, our group Wine line, showcases Italy’s finest wines. Thanks to a rigorous selection of vineyards, Grandi Vigne offers a wide range of Designation of Origin wines produced in privately-owned vineyards operating in a controlled supply chain. They would otherwise remain unknown or too exclusive for the general public.
Even fruit and vegetables are picked out with great care: Ortofin is a dedicated group subsidiary that deals with all things selection. Ortofin's expert agronomists work to ensure our fruit and vegetables offer is fresh and of high-quality, choosing the best growing practices and making sure the products are in line with the required quality standards.
From late 2023, we have started an ambitious project to develop a supplier selection strategy based on sustainability criteria, starting from our private label products. This represents an important step towards a more conscious approach when choosing our partners. Not only do we want to offer quality products to our customers, but we strive to do so while adhering to our sustainability and responsibility drivers.
Grandi Vigne, our group Wine line, showcases Italy’s finest wines. Thanks to a rigorous selection of vineyards, Grandi Vigne offers a wide range of Designation of Origin wines produced in privately-owned vineyards operating in a controlled supply chain. They would otherwise remain unknown or too exclusive for the general public.
Even fruit and vegetables are picked out with great care: Ortofin is a dedicated group subsidiary that deals with all things selection. Ortofin's expert agronomists work to ensure our fruit and vegetables offer is fresh and of high-quality, choosing the best growing practices and making sure the products are in line with the required quality standards.
From late 2023, we have started an ambitious project to develop a supplier selection strategy based on sustainability criteria, starting from our private label products. This represents an important step towards a more conscious approach when choosing our partners. Not only do we want to offer quality products to our customers, but we strive to do so while adhering to our sustainability and responsibility drivers.
Fighting food waste
As we operate in large-scale distribution, we act upon our role in food waste both as players in the food supply chain and as "influencers" of customer behaviour, from our aisles to their homes.
That's why we are implementing a no-food-waste programme that covers our entire supply chain, from ordering and logistics to the fridge and pantry of our customers. Our commitment goes beyond cutting waste: we aim at saving edible items that can’t be sold.
That's why we are implementing a no-food-waste programme that covers our entire supply chain, from ordering and logistics to the fridge and pantry of our customers. Our commitment goes beyond cutting waste: we aim at saving edible items that can’t be sold.
That's why we are implementing a no-food-waste programme that covers our entire supply chain, from ordering and logistics to the fridge and pantry of our customers. Our commitment goes beyond cutting waste: we aim at saving edible items that can’t be sold.
Firstly, we are focusing on salvaging such products and sending them to charitable organisations, which could give them out to those in need. For example, throughout 2023, we collaborated with Regusto to develop a no-food-waste project starting with our IPER stores, and then spread it to our logistic nodes and UNES stores, covering all the steps of our supply chain. With an active network of non-profit organisations that collect products that can't be sold in our stores, not only does this project prevent good food from being wasted, but it also represents a step forward in promoting a no-food-waste culture, allowing us to gauge the social and environmental impact of our commitment.
Our goal isn't only to limit food waste, but also to inspire a behavioural shift beyond our store doors, directly in our customers, thus contributing to a wider and more significant reduction in food waste.
Our goal isn't only to limit food waste, but also to inspire a behavioural shift beyond our store doors, directly in our customers, thus contributing to a wider and more significant reduction in food waste.
PEOPLE
People are at the heart of our sustainability strategy. A most precious resource for us, the very ambassadors of the values we embody in the eyes of our customers. We have always recognised the value of our people; only by developing and improving their skills can we reach our full potential.
Finiper Group sees talent not only as a resource, but as an investment for the future. We believe that by offering training and sharing opportunities we can improve personal skills and foster a sense of belonging deeply rooted in the tenets of our Group.
Finiper Group sees talent not only as a resource, but as an investment for the future. We believe that by offering training and sharing opportunities we can improve personal skills and foster a sense of belonging deeply rooted in the tenets of our Group.
Developing talent
For Finiper Group, harnessing talent means supporting our people with professional development by means of training, sharing, listening, and exchanging views. That's why we set the goal to increase these opportunities, both in-person and online, opening the doors to even more people.
Being a true beehive of knowledge and skills, our Scuola dei Mestieri had a prominent role in our 2023 training activities. For Iper alone, it held 88 days of in-person professional development sessions with 750 partners from the traditional fresh food industry.
Being a true beehive of knowledge and skills, our Scuola dei Mestieri had a prominent role in our 2023 training activities. For Iper alone, it held 88 days of in-person professional development sessions with 750 partners from the traditional fresh food industry.
This is a concrete example of how we are investing into our talent and how we try to offer our people the means to acquire the skills required to excel in their career.
Via the AWorld app, we gave our employees the chance to take part in an engaging and innovative training course, to familiarise them with issues close to their everyday work, as well as to create and foster a corporate sustainability culture. Through games and educational challenges, all Group employees who take part to the activities will dive deep in all things sustainability and will contribute to it by following daily suggestions from the App.
Via the AWorld app, we gave our employees the chance to take part in an engaging and innovative training course, to familiarise them with issues close to their everyday work, as well as to create and foster a corporate sustainability culture. Through games and educational challenges, all Group employees who take part to the activities will dive deep in all things sustainability and will contribute to it by following daily suggestions from the App.
Caring for our employees
A top priority is tending to our employees, as their commitment and well-being are paramount to the success of Finiper Group. In 2023, we raised the bar of welfare, with tangible actions to improve our employees' work-life quality.
A most significant move was to introduce a work-from-home policy. Not only is this in line with modern-day flexibility requirements, but it is also testimony to our commitment towards work-life balance.
A most significant move was to introduce a work-from-home policy. Not only is this in line with modern-day flexibility requirements, but it is also testimony to our commitment towards work-life balance.
We believe that a happier employee is more productive, creative, and committed.
For an all-round employees support system, we set up partnerships in healthcare assistance services. Such an example are programmes to promote physical and mental health, contributing to a positive and stimulating working environment.
For an all-round employees support system, we set up partnerships in healthcare assistance services. Such an example are programmes to promote physical and mental health, contributing to a positive and stimulating working environment.
GROUNDED IN COMMUNITIES
Ever since the beginning, we grew our roots in our communities, knowing we had to listen and react to their needs. Stepping into one of our Iper La grande i stores is an unparalleled experience; each store is unique and shaped around the local community needs. From display to services, every detail is carefully planned to respond to community needs and convey a sense of cultural identity. We collaborate with non-profit organisations, charities, and sport clubs to promote social inclusion, well-being and quality food, all by raising awareness and fundraising.
These efforts are embedded in our corporate vision, which includes the regeneration of areas surrounding our stores, to contribute to an overall urban upgrading process, as well as environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of those living and working in those areas.
These efforts are embedded in our corporate vision, which includes the regeneration of areas surrounding our stores, to contribute to an overall urban upgrading process, as well as environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of those living and working in those areas.
Awareness and donations
Being deeply rooted in our communities makes us believe in the positive impact we can have. Besides from offering quality products, we are committed to helping local and national organisations through donations – direct or via our customers, as well as by setting up food collections.
This philanthropic strategy is integral to our Sustainability Plan and actively involves key community stakeholders – all while adapting to the peculiarities of each community.
This philanthropic strategy is integral to our Sustainability Plan and actively involves key community stakeholders – all while adapting to the peculiarities of each community.
With our IPER and UNES brands, we have been taking part to several educational projects, as well as others geared towards social inclusion, scientific research, urban upgrading, and prevention. All thanks to solid, long-term partnerships with associations of national importance such as FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano - the Italian Fund for the Environment), San Patrignano, AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro – Italian Foundation for Cancer Research), AISM (Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla - Multiple Sclerosis Italian Association), LILT (Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori - Italian Alliance for Cancer Fight) and HUMANA (Humana People to People).
For example, in 2023, our Iper La grande i and UNES brands joined LILT in the fight against breast cancer, taking part in the "Nastro Rosa" campaign to raise awareness. By buying a bottle of Iper or Unes fresh milk with a bespoke branded label, part of the proceeds were given to the association to fund research and cancer-prevention projects, for a total donation of €23,000.
For example, in 2023, our Iper La grande i and UNES brands joined LILT in the fight against breast cancer, taking part in the "Nastro Rosa" campaign to raise awareness. By buying a bottle of Iper or Unes fresh milk with a bespoke branded label, part of the proceeds were given to the association to fund research and cancer-prevention projects, for a total donation of €23,000.
Inclusion and access to well-being
Promoting and making well-being accessible is one of our main pillars, a strategy we have been implementing for the longest time. The Group ensures access to well-being in different ways.
Firstly, we are committed to guaranteeing quality products at reasonable prices to economically support our customers. Our hypermarkets and supermarkets prominently showcase the best value-for-money products – consumer staples included. We make sure fresh food such as bread, hand-made pastry goods and deli products are accessible to everyone. Our network of IPER stores promotes social initiatives such as the "Carta dedicata a te", a fidelity card to make products accessible to each customer who may need it.
Firstly, we are committed to guaranteeing quality products at reasonable prices to economically support our customers. Our hypermarkets and supermarkets prominently showcase the best value-for-money products – consumer staples included. We make sure fresh food such as bread, hand-made pastry goods and deli products are accessible to everyone. Our network of IPER stores promotes social initiatives such as the "Carta dedicata a te", a fidelity card to make products accessible to each customer who may need it.
One more key point for us is ensuring a tailored service: we care for dietary needs and do so by expanding our offer keeping in mind allergies, intolerances, and dietary choices. That's why we offer a complete range of gluten-free products for gluten-intolerant and coeliac people. We offer such products daily, and we did so in 2023 by creating a proper bakery for AIC-certified fresh baked goods and pastries, and with an AIC-certified food corner for coeliac customers in Monza. With such services as Iper Salute and its over-the-counter pharmacies, optometry practices and quick check-up services, we invest in health and make sure our community has access to tailored solutions for their well-being.
We commit to a daily effort to showcase local excellence, offering our customers local and traditional products, without standardising our product range, which would efface our country’s renowned food variety. Our stores feature Vignola cherries, Verona-grown radicchio, Volpedo peaches, or Sardinia-harvested spinoso artichoke.
We commit to a daily effort to showcase local excellence, offering our customers local and traditional products, without standardising our product range, which would efface our country’s renowned food variety. Our stores feature Vignola cherries, Verona-grown radicchio, Volpedo peaches, or Sardinia-harvested spinoso artichoke.
Urban regeneration
Our caring for the community we operate in is embedded in our mission to be a positive influence. We manage our stores responsibly and actively commit to upgrading neighbouring areas, contributing to their overall improvement.
One significant example is the upgrading of Parco Portello, funded by Iper Montebello S.p.A. It gave new life to the heart of the Milanese neighbourhood, giving the community a new accessible green area.
One significant example is the upgrading of Parco Portello, funded by Iper Montebello S.p.A. It gave new life to the heart of the Milanese neighbourhood, giving the community a new accessible green area.
Another ambitious project is Finiper Group's requalification of the former Alfa Romeo area between Arese, Lainate, and Garbagnate Milanese. The last few years provided the local community with a usable, lively area. A bustling social and commercial area, the shopping centre and the Pista area created more than 3000 jobs out of an area that was dismissed and degraded up until 2015. And there's more. We have just started a new urban regeneration project: more than 700,000 squared metre will benefit from it, with an estimated 3,000 tonnes CO2 reduction per year thanks to planted trees and bike paths, as well as leveraging renewables.
The project will feature one of the biggest urban parks of the metropolitan area, bringing together SPORTS – NATURE – WELL-BEING. All done with a mix of urban amenities for sports, well-being, and leisure; Hospitality, modern-style office buildings, competitive and small commercial activities will be joined by innovative and specialised wellness, sports, and DIY businesses.
The project will feature one of the biggest urban parks of the metropolitan area, bringing together SPORTS – NATURE – WELL-BEING. All done with a mix of urban amenities for sports, well-being, and leisure; Hospitality, modern-style office buildings, competitive and small commercial activities will be joined by innovative and specialised wellness, sports, and DIY businesses.
ENVIRONMENT AND FUTURE
Our world couldn't possibly be excluded from our sustainability plan. Attention to our planet and the environment is our prerogative, which any action for a sustainable future hinges upon.
As food and consumer-goods distributors, we don't see ourselves as mere retailers, but also as key players responsible of managing resources. Our goals and strategies create a circular approach to everyday activities, to cut down on waste and maximise the responsible use of available resources. We see climate change as one of the most pressing global challenges, and we are actively committed to mitigating it with daily, tangible actions and strategies to cut emissions.
As food and consumer-goods distributors, we don't see ourselves as mere retailers, but also as key players responsible of managing resources. Our goals and strategies create a circular approach to everyday activities, to cut down on waste and maximise the responsible use of available resources. We see climate change as one of the most pressing global challenges, and we are actively committed to mitigating it with daily, tangible actions and strategies to cut emissions.
Towards a more circular economy
The journey towards a more circular economy is a challenge for a more sustainable future. This outlook allows us to closely examine each of our operations, from packaging our fresh products to reducing and managing store waste. Our plan devises concrete actions for a circular economy.
We focus on reviewing and improving fresh food packaging, to gradually substitute away conventional materials with environment-friendly solutions. At the same time, we are rethinking our private label packaging together with our suppliers to find more sustainable solutions.
We focus on reducing and better handling our waste, too. In fact, we actively promote waste recycling practices in our stores and in-store restaurants, encouraging customers to take part in it. We have been using plastic waste compactors in most of our UNES stores for several years. In 2023, we partnered with Corepla and introduced state-of-the-art compactors in some of our Iper La grande i stores, to reduce the volume of plastic and make it more recyclable, thus making the process more efficient. This project will soon involve all the other UNES stores.
Our commitment to circular economy is reflected in the actions geared towards food waste and food donation. "Gusto in Tempo" is our strategy to avoid food waste. It gives products about to expire a second life in our customers' pantries, at a lower cost. This reduces food waste and integrates these products in the consumption cycle, promoting and efficient circular economy model.
Food donations are yet another cornerstone of our strategy. Transforming product surplus into resources for those in need contributes to reducing food waste and actively implements a circular economy model. By doing so, we create a positive impact in our supply chain and in the communities we belong to, bringing about a more sustainable business model.
We focus on reducing and better handling our waste, too. In fact, we actively promote waste recycling practices in our stores and in-store restaurants, encouraging customers to take part in it. We have been using plastic waste compactors in most of our UNES stores for several years. In 2023, we partnered with Corepla and introduced state-of-the-art compactors in some of our Iper La grande i stores, to reduce the volume of plastic and make it more recyclable, thus making the process more efficient. This project will soon involve all the other UNES stores.
Our commitment to circular economy is reflected in the actions geared towards food waste and food donation. "Gusto in Tempo" is our strategy to avoid food waste. It gives products about to expire a second life in our customers' pantries, at a lower cost. This reduces food waste and integrates these products in the consumption cycle, promoting and efficient circular economy model.
Food donations are yet another cornerstone of our strategy. Transforming product surplus into resources for those in need contributes to reducing food waste and actively implements a circular economy model. By doing so, we create a positive impact in our supply chain and in the communities we belong to, bringing about a more sustainable business model.
Fighting climate change
Our commitment to the fight against climate change is pivotal in our sustainability strategy. We are well aware of the need to make our operations less impactful, and we are developing a strategy to calculate our greenhouse gases emissions.
Calculating emissions is of paramount importance to better understand our environmental footprint.
Calculating emissions is of paramount importance to better understand our environmental footprint.
By assessing and monitoring our emissions, we can identify the areas in need of action to reduce our overall climate impact. This approach will give us solid grounds to develop a viable decarbonisation strategy.
We realise our environmental footprint is not limited to our direct emissions, and that it involves our suppliers and our logistics, too, as well as all the key subjects on our supply chain. As a further goal, we aim at assessing our Scope-3 emissions – a challenging and complex process that will require collaborating with our supply chain partners, so as to adopt sustainable and measurable shared practices.
Over the past few years, we have committed to making our stores as energy efficient and technologically advanced as possible. Some of our stores and shopping centres have been fitted with solar panels, allowing us to harvest sustainable energy and reduce our energy consumption, connecting us to a grid of certified and renewable electricity.
With bespoke investments, we have implemented technologies to improve our energy efficiency, which reduces our environmental footprint. Closing our street-facing doors and installing air barrier systems are testimony to our commitment to reducing energy waste, and to operating more efficiently.
At the same time, we raise our employees' awareness and promote sustainable work practices. Awareness and training are key instruments in developing a corporate culture that truly embodies sustainability.
We realise our environmental footprint is not limited to our direct emissions, and that it involves our suppliers and our logistics, too, as well as all the key subjects on our supply chain. As a further goal, we aim at assessing our Scope-3 emissions – a challenging and complex process that will require collaborating with our supply chain partners, so as to adopt sustainable and measurable shared practices.
Over the past few years, we have committed to making our stores as energy efficient and technologically advanced as possible. Some of our stores and shopping centres have been fitted with solar panels, allowing us to harvest sustainable energy and reduce our energy consumption, connecting us to a grid of certified and renewable electricity.
With bespoke investments, we have implemented technologies to improve our energy efficiency, which reduces our environmental footprint. Closing our street-facing doors and installing air barrier systems are testimony to our commitment to reducing energy waste, and to operating more efficiently.
At the same time, we raise our employees' awareness and promote sustainable work practices. Awareness and training are key instruments in developing a corporate culture that truly embodies sustainability.
Preserving natural elements
We believe that caring for the environment requires responsible and concrete actions. To do so, we have set up initiatives that we'll implement with our sustainability plan.
An example would be our digital receipt project, currently being tested in three of our stores. We intend to extend this project to the whole network of Iper La grande i stores. Its goal is to reduce paper usage and aid the transition towards more sustainable transactions.
An example would be our digital receipt project, currently being tested in three of our stores. We intend to extend this project to the whole network of Iper La grande i stores. Its goal is to reduce paper usage and aid the transition towards more sustainable transactions.
A digital receipt would not only contribute to minimising printed paper usage, thus preserving our forests, but it would also entail more modern, more efficient checkouts.
Furthermore, a project to cut down on fliers has been active for years, a decision in line with our goal of reducing the impact of producing and distributing printed materials. Digital strategies and online platforms to market offers and promotions allow for efficient, paper-free communication with our customers.
We are determined to exploring and implementing innovative solutions to reduce our overall footprint and steer our business towards a more sustainable use of natural resources.
Furthermore, a project to cut down on fliers has been active for years, a decision in line with our goal of reducing the impact of producing and distributing printed materials. Digital strategies and online platforms to market offers and promotions allow for efficient, paper-free communication with our customers.
We are determined to exploring and implementing innovative solutions to reduce our overall footprint and steer our business towards a more sustainable use of natural resources.
