by FoodBizDaily.com staff writer
February 19 2010 - Tesco’s new distribution centre in Widnes, Cheshire, is to be completely powered by renewable energy generated from food waste through a partnership with logistics company Stobart and the PDM Group.
The Tesco distribution centre will take its renewable energy from neighbouring PDM's combined heat and power plant that turns 230,000 tonnes of food waste, which already includes Tesco's meat waste, into renewable heat and electricity.
Tesco has leased the 500,000 square foot sustainable distribution centre at Widnes, due to become operational this summer, to provide increased capacity to service its growing network of stores in the North West.
At the same time Tesco is to close its distribution centre in Middleton, Greater Manchester, and existing employees will be invited to relocate to Widnes. The Middleton plant is said to be too small with no room for expansion.
The new warehouse is part of the Stobart Group's estate and a direct power link provides renewable energy straight from PDM's plant to the neighbouring Stobart-run distribution centre on Widnes, helping to reduce CO2.
Juliette Bishop, corporate affairs manager, at Tesco said: “It's really important that companies are not just paying lip service to the green agenda, but bringing it into every part of their business.
“This venture is an ideal example of how sustainability is at the very core of Tesco and it's great that we can demonstrate that our meat waste is directly providing power back into our operations, helping us to reduce waste to landfill and improve our carbon footprint.”
Stobart and PDM will also be working together to offer Stobart's customer base - predominantly food retailers - a sustainable recycling service for food waste.
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About Tesco PLC
Tesco PLC is an international retailer. The Company is engaged in retailing and associated activities in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China and the United States. The Company also provides retail banking and insurance services through its subsidiary Tesco Personal Finance PLC (formerly Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited) (TPF). The Company has two business segments, retailing and financial services. Retailing Services includes the Company’s online shopping channels, tesco.com and Tesco Direct; Telecoms; Tesco Personal Finance (TPF), and dunnhumby, its consumer research business.