Cibi e Bevande
AZZURRI GROUP SUSTAINABLE DINING REPORT FY23
During FY23, the company delivered a strong financial performance, opened additional restaurants and expanded its brands' retail offerings. Amidst this period of growth, Azzurri Group achieved a reduction in carbon emissions, both in absolute terms and an even greater intensity reduction of 9.7% (tCO2e/ £1m turnover). The reduction in absolute emissions was primarily driven by strategic developments in the supply chain (targeting scope 3 emissions).
The company's circular food waste initiative – a first-of-its-kind for the UK hospitality sector – contributed to a significant improvement in waste management. The award-winning circularity initiative, in partnership with Bio Collectors, collects restaurant food waste in London and converts this into biogas and fertiliser to support wheat growth. The wheat is harvested by ADM Milling to make flour that's used in 200 ASK Italian and Zizzi restaurants – creating a traceable, closed loop supply chain.
Azzurri achieved its target of using 100% widely recyclable takeaway packaging across its ASK Italian and Zizzi brands, resulting in new purchasing guidelines for buyers and suppliers. The company has transitioned takeaway pasta bowls from recyclable plastic to paper-based packaging – eliminating 48 tonnes of plastic from its supply chain every year. By redesigning takeaway pizza boxes, the company also cut over 145,000m of cardboard – equivalent to 16 football pitches.
The Azzurri Group also improved food distribution, cutting over 140,000 food miles. ASK Italian and Zizzi cut 75,000 food miles by partnering with Best Food, while Coco di Mama optimised its delivery strategy, saving 66,000 food miles.
Each of Azzurri's brands made significant contributions to local communities, donating over £120,650 to support important charities. Coco di Mama continued its collaboration with the Felix Project, and in 2023, partnered with Olio to redistribute surplus food to those most in need and further reduce waste. Last year, Coco donated 10,344kg of edible food, the equivalent to 23,861 meals or 146,951 car miles off the road.
In 2023, the company committed to ensuring all restaurant refurbishments and new openings are consistent with SKA building standards, a rigorous third party verified assessment aiming to promote environmental best practices within building fitouts. Zizzi in Leeds and Coco di Mama in Reading achieved SKA Gold Certification this year, bringing the total to three sites with further scheduled for the coming year. Improvements made at Zizzi's Leeds branch lowered its carbon footprint by reducing energy usage by 31% and diverting 100% of waste materials away from landfill.
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Azzurri's core investments ASK Italian and Zizzi are highly complementary, appealing to a broad customer base, both providing a memorable dining experience and offering great value for money. A constant focus on proposition refinement, menu development and restaurant design keep the brands in a leading position in a highly competitive market.
The group also owns Coco di Mama , a quick service Italian food-to-go business operating 16 stores in London specialising in coffee and pasta and has emerged from the pandemic with a nationwide delivery presence.
Boojum; complemented by the acquisition of the Mexican, fast casual, and Northern Ireland -based operator, Boojum in June 2023 . The acquisition of Boojum marked a significant landmark in the development of Azzurri's strategy of investing in growth businesses that can benefit from the investment platform's resources.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/azzurri-group--sustainable-dining-report-fy23-302084153.html