Sustainability Approach
We are focused on the ESG factors that matter most to our stakeholders—ensuring we have the right approach on materiality, strategy and governance to keep making strides in our sustainability journey. Along the way, we’re committed to being upfront about our goals, progress, success stories and areas where we have more work to do.
We listen to our stakeholders and scan for ESG risks and opportunities
We determine material ESG factors including areas in which we can make a big impact
We shape and implement our sustainability strategy and governance to manage ESG factors and advance business strategy
We share our progress through our Sustainable Business Report and other ESG disclosures
Engaging Our Stakeholders
Effective and meaningful engagement with our diverse stakeholder community is a vital part of how we do business and identify ESG-related risks and opportunities. We define stakeholders as groups and individuals who are impacted by our operations and corporate strategy and who, in turn, impact our business success.
Teammates
(across corporate and franchise sites, in operations and office-based)
How We Engage
- Intranet and closed social media groups
- Working committees on projects
- Townhalls and leadership messages
- Internal surveys (e.g., biannual Your Voices Survey)
- Education and awareness sessions
- Direct email communication
Investor Community
- Shareholders’ Annual General Meeting
- Direct investor communication, including investor conferences, quarterly earnings calls and financial reports
- Investor Relations inbox: investor.relations@empireco.ca
Customers
- OurPartTM
- In-store experiences and customer service counters
- National and regional banner-specific Customer Care phone and email services
- National and regional surveys on sustainable development
- Consumer focus groups
- Receipt messaging
- Customer satisfaction surveys
- Social media
Supplier Partners
- Supplier partner onboarding process
- Regular communication with category managers and sourcing teams
- Supplier surveys
Communities
- In-store experiences
- Store openings
- Partnerships with local organizations
- Community Action Fund
- Social media
NGOs
- Direct meetings and emails with leads across all three pillars
- Industry associations and meetings
- Partnerships
- Social media
Government
- Industry consultations
- Government relations partners
- Direct engagement with elected officials, policymakers and civil servants
Materiality Assessment
In fiscal 2023, we conducted a refreshed materiality assessment to update our understanding of the ESG issues that are most important to stakeholders and will influence business success. To inform our refreshed assessment we drew on peer benchmarking; matrix mapping of peers, suppliers and relevant organizations; business leader and consumer insights; and reviews of relevant legislation and internal documentation.
Based on this work we found that several existing factors have increased in importance to stakeholders, including climate change, customer experience and engagement, and cybersecurity and data privacy. While plastics and packaging decreased slightly in importance, it nonetheless remains a priority for stakeholders and for us. We also found several new issues are of growing importance to stakeholders, including human rights, animal welfare, employee pay, local sourcing, and nature, biodiversity and water.
This matrix informs our updated sustainability strategy, launched in fiscal 2024. We continue to share our progress on evolving ESG topics under the sustainability strategy pillars of People, Planet and Products.
Updated Sustainability Strategy
To build on our momentum and to achieve the ambition of our business strategy, in fiscal 2024 we updated our three-year sustainability strategy. Working under the established sustainability pillars of People, Planet and Products, we’ve defined five priority areas to accelerate over the coming decade:
Climate Action
Decarbonize and transition our business and supply chain to thrive in a low carbon economy through our Climate Action Plan
Plastics & Packaging
Enable customers to shop, buy and live free of plastic waste
Food Waste
Reduce food waste in our operations and at home to feed Canadians, not landfills
Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
Embed responsible business practices in all sourcing decisions, providing confidence that products protect people and the planet
Vitality
Support customers to make easy, practical choices that are healthy for themselves, their communities and the planet
Underpinning these priorities are the governance, engagement and reporting needed to achieve the proposed actions and continue to embed sustainability across our business and value chain.
Targets
Building on the science-based targets in our Climate Action Plan, and in compliance with guidance from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), we are taking steps to define specific targets for GHG emissions related to the forestry, land and agriculture (FLAG) sector. We are developing a FLAG-related SBTi for Scope 3, Category 1—purchased goods and services, in collaboration with supplier partners.
Disclosure Controls & Assurance
The mandate of the Audit Committee of Empire’s Board of Directors includes reviewing applicable metrics and information contained in our annual Sustainable Business Report. Future state, we intend to engage a third-party provider to obtain limited assurance relating to our Scope 1 and 2 emissions to increase the credibility of our disclosed data, including completing an assessment-readiness process as an initial step. Read more in Climate Action.
