BERLIN, GERMANY— Reitan Convenience Sweden has won the NACS European Convenience Retail Sustainability Award for its PBX brand and setting the standard for what sustainability means in the global convenience retail channel. The award, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, was presented on June 2 at the NACS Convenience Summit Europe.
“We are so happy and proud that PBX won such a prestigious award. PBX would not have been possible without the dedicated people behind the initiative who worked hard and committed from the beginning. We are determined to redefine our industry to make convenience sustainable and sustainability convenient and it is with great humbleness that we take on this journey,” said Malin Eklund, sustainability director at Reitan Convenience.
Reitan Convenience launched its sustainable convenience store brand PBX in 2021. The store functions as a “living lab,” where Reitan can test its sustainability strategy in a fast and efficient way. Reitan is using the store to directly investigate and evaluate what is most sustainable in terms of both operations and supply to speed up sustainability work in its other operations.
PBX is part of Reitan Convenience's sustainability strategy, which was developed in consultation with Prosperous Planet in 2019. Twelve goals were adopted, including a pledge that by 2030 the company will be a climate-neutral business, that the goods and services sold will be produced in a way that protects the ecosystems, as well as constant development on the range of food and beverages that focus on health and wellness.
The NACS Convenience Retail Sustainability Award recognizes a retail company that has pursued a significant and compelling sustainability initiative that creates positive social outcomes and produces lasting value for customers, employees and the convenience retail industry. The judges agreed that Reitan's approach with PBX is unique in that it allows the company to identify opportunities for change at its stores, which goes beyond reducing carbon footprint and focuses on sustainable products and packaging.
“The European convenience retail market is where other global retailers need to look for innovation in sustainable business strategies that are moving companies into the future,” said NACS President and CEO Henry O. Armour. “Reitan Convenience Sweden is a great example of how the actions they take now will pioneer long-term business solutions.”
The NACS Convenience Summit Europe (convenience.org/CSE) is where global retailers gather each year to gain and share knowledge on strategic industry issues, while taking a deep dive into how these core, retail-centric themes will impact the industry today and in the future. This year’s event took place in Berlin, Germany from May 31 to 2 June 2.