LoweConex have today announced a partnership with The Midcounties Co-operative, a family of businesses with over 230 food stores across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.
LoweConex is a software provider that helps the UK’s largest retailers optimise existing refrigeration and HVAC systems, in turn driving maintenance efficiencies and energy savings.
This investment by The Midcounties Co-operative follows news of an 11% reduction in energy usage between 2023 and 2024 by Midcounties. The partnership aims to build upon these efforts’ year-on-year to help the Society achieve its target of reducing direct emissions by 50% by January 2027.
As part of its sustainability initiatives, this partnership focuses on reducing the energy and carbon footprint of Midcounties stores to the lowest level possible. The Society will work with LoweConex to centrally control refrigeration and heating and cooling systems to drive energy efficiencies.
Announcing the partnership, The Midcounties Co-operative's Head of Energy Efficiency, Julie Sheldon, commented, “The Midcounties Co-operative is committed to using the power of co-operation to build a fairer, more ethical and sustainable future. This partnership with LoweConex is a key part of this, helping us to make continuing progress in reducing our carbon emissions and energy usage, and ensuring our stores operate as efficiently and responsibly as possible.”
The Midcounties Co-operative is fully owned by its 700,000 members and currently operates 230 food stores across the West Midlands, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. With significant year-on-year energy savings already achieved, the Society is committed to enhancing its communities from both environmental and social perspectives, with a range of initiatives already in place to make a difference.
LoweConex has delivered significant energy reductions for retail and hospitality businesses across the UK and are now working with Midcounties to help them in achieving further energy savings.
Ian Smithyman, Chief Operating Officer at LoweConex, welcomed the announcement saying, “At LoweConex, we’re excited to be launching our technology into the The Midcounties Co-operative’s Food Retail estate.
The Midcounties Co-operative’s commitment to their communities is truly impressive, and as a partner, we are proud to be playing our part in helping the Society further their energy and environmental initiatives in their Food Stores. We look forward to working alongside their remarkable colleagues and building a sustainable impact.”