UAE supermarket chain Spinneys has opened its first sustainable concept store in Dubai, as it continues to develop its corporate programme Let’s Do Better Together.
Situated in The Sustainable City, a 46-hectare development within Dubai’s Layan Community, the new branch is designed to offer customers an easy, convenient way to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and to shop more sustainably.
Dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible products, in the best possible way, the store has been carefully stocked to highlight health benefits across all of its ranges.
Fruit and vegetables are sourced primarily from home-grown sources to support local farmers.
Shoppers can try organic cherry tomatoes that have been grown in perfect conditions to deliver sweetness and flavour, while Spinneys has also increased its stock of Naturally I’m Perfect veg lines – multipacks of vegetables non-uniform shapes.
Elsewhere, shoppers can explore an array of added-value products – organic, vegan, plant-based, high-protein, free-range, or made with reduced fats and sugar varieties – that are geared towards living well, as well as eating well.
One of the store’s main sustainability features is its Refill Stops, a new concept that encourages customers to reuse and replenish their own containers.
Shoppers receive a discount at the deli counter for bringing their own container, and dispensers are provided throughout the store encouraging refillable shopping across multiple household categories such as coffee, spices, honey, pasta, pulses, snacks and detergent.
As a first for retail in the region, the store also offers a refillable water station with complimentary room-temperature water for customers to top up their bottles, as well as chilled, sparkling and naturally infused botanical essence waters such as lemon balm and peppermint for 5 to 10 AED per refill.
The store is also home to honey bees who are living in hives on the roof, to support the pollination of local flora and fauna.
Spinneys CEO Sunil Kumar said: “At Spinneys, we are making sustainable choices for the future. We know that we have a lot of work to do to become a truly sustainable organisation, but we are proud of the positive steps we are making – and the new concept store is a testament to that. Sustainable innovation is part of who we are, and we will continue to drive such forward-thinking in the region.”
As part of its bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the Layan supermarket and car park have also been fitted with 650 solar panels. The store’s refrigeration systems have been purposely built to emit fewer fluorocarbons.
Removing unnecessary plastic is also a key focus. Products will be sourced with recyclable packaging and recycled content where possible.
There is a firm ‘no plastic bags’ policy at the check-out too. Customers must either bring their own or pay for a paper bag.
Sophie Corcut, sustainability manager at Spinneys, commented: “As a local supermarket we have a responsibility to contribute to creating a more sustainable way of living for our community. We hope this new store concept, which we plan to roll out across the UAE, will help play a part in supporting the government’s sustainability goals.”
