Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. 2025 Sustainable Business Report
Prioritizing sustainability is a critical element of our ambition to be the best retailer in Canada. We’ve taken bold actions,
including setting science-based climate targets, eliminating single-use plastic checkout bags, collaborating with supplier partners to address social and environmental risks in our supply chain, deepening our engagement with Indigenous peoples and continuing to invest in our teams and communities. Our updated sustainability strategy builds on this momentum so we can continue to deliver ethical and sustainable products that are good for people, good for the planet and good for fostering strong business performance.
A Message from the Head of Corporate Sustainability
“As a proudly Canadian grocery retailer, we are committed to strengthening domestic supply chains, investing in homegrown businesses and ensuring people across the country have access to the best locally sourced products.”
Sustainability Strategy, Priorities & Pillars
Sustainability at Sobeys
Vision
Empower all to live sustainably in thriving communities
Pillars
- People
- Planet
- Products
Priorities
- Climate Action
- Community Investment
- DE&I
- Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
- Food Waste
- Indigenous Relationships
- Plastics & Packaging
Our updated sustainability strategy builds on momentum, accelerates action and amplifies positive impacts for People and Planet through sustainable and ethical Products.
Empire is a national retailer with deep local roots; strong customer, supplier partner and teammate relationships across Canada; and supply chains that extend around the world and, as such, we have the scale and commitment to empower people to live sustainably in thriving communities.
Our sustainability priorities are to keep driving progress in:
Climate Action
Decarbonizing and transitioning our business and supply chain to thrive in a low-carbon economy through our Climate Action Plan
Plastics & Packaging
Enabling our customers to buy, shop and live free of plastic waste
Food Waste
Reducing food waste in our operations to feed people, not landfills
Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
Embedding responsible business practices in sourcing decisions, providing confidence that the products we sell are good for people and the planet
People
We’re focused on growing and empowering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce to enable our customers and communities to thrive.
Planet
We’re reducing our impacts and taking action on climate change to do OurPartTM to protect our planet for future generations.
Products
We’re doing OurPartTM by delivering sustainable and ethical product choices for our customers.
Fiscal 2025 Sustainable Business Report Highlights
Planet
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re reducing our impacts and taking action on climate change to do OurPartR to protect our planet for future generations.
Our goal is that 64% of suppliers (by spend) set science-based targets on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of calendar year 2027. We are over halfway to our target
Achieved a 13% average conversion from single-use plastic to reusable containers through our pilot with Friendlier in Farm Boy’s Southwestern Ontario stores
~30M
lbs of surplus food donated, gaining recognition from Second Harvest as Canada’s Top Food Rescue Partner for the third consecutive year
30.1%
reduction in Scope 1 and 2 targets compared to 2019 baseline.
30.1%
reduction in Scope 1 and 2 targets compared to 2019 baseline.
Products
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re doing OurPartTM by delivering sustainable and ethical product choices for our customers.
98% of Own Brands seafood (by weight) is certified sustainable or recommended
90% of palm oil in Own Brands products is certified sustainable by physical trace and credits (RSPO-certified)
430+
women entrepreneurs supported in fiscal 2024 (across Canada, excluding Quebec and Farm Boy)
Released our first Fighting Forced Labour and Child Labour report
People
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re focused on growing and empowering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce to enable our customers and communities to thrive.
92%
of directors and above set DE&I performance and accountability goals (excluding Farm Boy) Completed verification for the Partnership Accreditation for Indigenous Relations
38%
representation of women at the senior leadership level (excluding Farm Boy)
~$25M
donated to support healthy bodies and minds in our communities (~$7 million in corporate donations and ~$18 million raised
Empire is a proudly Canadian company, with more than 115 years of experience in the food retail business.
As a family nurturing families, we want to ensure Canadians are taken care of today, tomorrow and in the future. By doing OurPartR for the environment, we hope to inspire our customers to do their part. Every step we take together, big or small, can make a difference.
