Bibendum's environmental policies ‘key' to winning new business
Wine merchant Bibendum has put its award-winning environmental policies down as a key factor to winning new business.
Managing director Michael Saunders said: "More and more of our existing and prospective customers are demanding to know about our green policies and the actions we are taking to minimise our impact on the environment. It is definitely a growing consideration for many on-trade businesses when considering suppliers."
Saunders was speaking after Bibendum won two awards of its own at the 2011 EECO awards which recognise outstanding work on environmental issues in Bibendum's home borough of Camden.
Amanda Willsher, the chair of Bibendum's green team, Vivid, won the "Exceptional contribution by an individual to their organisation's environmental performance" while Bibendum won the "Innovation in Food and Drink packaging" award for its work with lightweight glass.
"We work very closely with them to create a wine list that matches their environmental credentials. I was delighted when they won Pub Wine List of Year in the Academy Food and Wine Awards of Excellence."
As a result of its green policies, Bibendum:
• Recycles 65% of its office waste
• Saves 195 tonnes of glass every year and reduces CO2 emissions by 621 tonnes by using a lightweight glass bottle for its UK-bottled wines
• Has reduced the proportion of customers who receive paper invoices from 45% to 9% in three years
• Is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 5% in 2012
Saunders concluded: "I am very proud of these latest awards, and especially Amanda's richly deserved win. We invest a huge amount of time and resource getting our green initiatives right and we will continue to do more to meet both our own high expectations and those of our increasingly environmentally-conscious customers."
The firm has been working with Battlesteads hotel and restaurant in Northumberland, which has won several international green tourism awards in recent months.
Richard Slade, owner of Battlesteads, said: "We first started working with Bibendum in late 2010 and soon realised they were the right partner to meet our desire for an exciting and unusual green wine list. Since we introduced the new list in April 2011, we've seen a dramatic 42% increase in wine sales. The quality of the wines and the standard of service we receive are exemplary, and Bibendum's expertise in meeting our exacting requirements is very much welcomed."
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By Neil Gerrard
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