ŞOK Marketler stands out with its leading projects that prevent food waste, reduce waste, and increase energy efficiency as it issues its 6th Sustainability Report. The company supports local production and prevents waste through its ‘Fair Agriculture from Field to Table’ project. 

Operating with 10,475 stores and over 46 thousand employees across Türkiye’s 81 provinces, ŞOK Marketler has shared its sustainability-centered practices that lay claim to the future with the public. Having issued its 6th Sustainability Report, the company had it audited through independent assurance.

Centering its operations around the ‘Waste-Free Company’ model, ŞOK Marketler included its example-setting practices in such fields as energy efficiency, water and waste management, plastic reduction, stakeholder welfare-oriented investments and approach, diversity, and inclusion in the report. Highlighting the company’s goal of making the world a more habitable place for future generations, the report features ŞOK Marketler’s efforts and strategies toward environmental sustainability, employee satisfaction, social responsibility, and product quality. Driven by the ‘This Is Our World’ approach, the company’s sustainability efforts are addressed as part of three focus areas: ‘Working for the Future of Nature,’ ‘Getting Stronger with Stakeholders,’ and ‘Inspiring the Future.’

Preventing food waste

One of ŞOK Marketler’s projects that stood out among its sustainability efforts was the ‘Fair Agriculture from Field to Table Project,’ contributing to local production at the highest level and preventing waste. The company offers its customers high-quality produce cultivated by farmers across Türkiye at the most affordable prices through this project. With direct purchases from farmers and controls at every step from the field to the table, products are transported to store isles with full support to farmers. As part of the project, the harvest of such agricultural products as grains and legumes is mechanized through the use of industrial machines, preventing food loss. In contrast, horticultural products are harvested manually. The number of farmers informed as part of the company’s ‘Fair Agriculture from Field to Table Project’ has already reached 378.

In addition, by opting for equipment that enables energy efficiency in its stores as part of the ‘Store Energy Efficiency Project’ implemented across its wide store network, ŞOK Marketler makes energy consumption efficient by investing in the automation of high-consumption systems. Having invested TRY 6.2 million in this project in 2022, the company saved TRY 7.5 million. It also continued investing in digitalization and its Cepte ŞOK application, driven by the significance it attaches to e-commerce and digitalization for offering a better shopping experience.

As ŞOK Marketler continues creating value with over 46 thousand employees, it strives to enhance the participation and effectiveness of female and young employees in this ecosystem, with a female employee rate reaching 51 percent in 2022.

Uğur Demirel: ‘We operate within a sustainability vision in our environmental, social, economic, and digitalization efforts, creating long-term value.’

Remarking they operate toward the goal of leaving a more habitable world to future generations, ŞOK Marketler CEO Uğur Demirel said that they are firmly committed to the waste-free company model and taking measures to ensure energy savings and efficiency in all their stores and warehouses. Stating that they offer high-quality and reliable products to their customers at the most affordable prices as part of their from unity to bounty vision, Demirel also mentioned they use their digital skills accurately and continue increasing their digital infrastructure investments to ensure efficiency. Pointing out they continue growing while building a heartfelt connection with their customers as one of Türkiye’s leading food retail chains, Uğur Demirel said: “We work to create long-term value for the Turkish economy, ensuring sustainability in all respects. Driven by this vision, we integrate environmental, social, economic, and digital advancements into our models of doing business and reinforce our financial success with the sustainable value we create.”

Saving energy through energy efficiency projects implemented in stores

The projects ŞOK Marketler implemented in 2022 that significantly contributed to the environment are as follows:

*Continuous improvements were made to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Waste and packages were reduced, recycled, or eliminated at the source.

*The negative impact of the environmental footprint was reduced thanks to the energy savings enabled and emissions prevented. TRY 6.2 million was invested in the Store Energy Efficiency Projects in 2022, saving TRY 7.5 million. Thus, 12 to 15 percent energy savings were enabled, with 2.297 MWh.

*Cooler and freezer room replacements enabled savings. 100 coolers with high energy consumption were replaced with an investment of TRY 23.3 million, reducing consumption by 35-40 percent. Freezer rooms were replaced and renewed. TRY 5.3 million was invested to reduce energy consumption by an average of 43 percent.

*With the 12 thousand 754 waste pieces of storage equipment in stores, waste is stored and transferred to respective institutions for proper elimination. All stores sort wastes and aim to receive Zero Waste Certificates, with 38 warehouses and almost 9 thousand 600 stores having been certified so far.

*A significant level of waste reduction was enabled by switching to reusable plastic boxes from disposable plastic or carton boxes for produce transportation.