Roundy's Joining EPA's GreenChill Program

Midwestern grocer Roundy’s Inc. is joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill program, which is a partnership between the EPA and food retailers to reduce emissions and decrease their impact on the environment.

In 2014, the Roundy’s-owned Pick 'n Save chain became the first grocer in Wisconsin, and only the third store in the U.S., to utilize a Transcritical CO2 refrigeration system in its Menomonee Falls, Wis., market. The Transcritical CO2 system eliminates the use of ozone-depleting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The Menomonee Falls store is regarded as one of the “greenest” supermarkets in the nation and was awarded a Platinum level certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership Program.

“The new Transcritical CO2 technology is more environmentally friendly than its chemical counterparts. Roundy’s is proud to partner with the EPA’s GreenChill program and do its part to help reduce HFC emissions,” said James Hyland, Roundy’s VP of investor relations, corporate communications and public affairs.

Pledge to install system in new stores

Since the opening of the Menomonee Falls store in January 2014, the Transcritical CO2 refrigeration system has performed flawlessly, Roundy's reports. Using the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies calculator, the yearly reduction of greenhouse gases are approximately 33.6 metric tons and 36,047 pounds of coal being burned. 

With the success of the Menomonee Falls store’s Transcritical CO2 installation, Roundy’s has entered into a GreenChill Partnership with the EPA, pledging to install the Transcritical CO2 refrigeration system or whatever improved non-HFC technology becomes available in all new store builds and any store remodels where the entire refrigeration system is scheduled for replacement. Six newly built stores are scheduled to open in 2016.

“We not only strive to give our customers a great shopping experience, but also want to contribute to the communities in which we do business, as well as the global community,” said Robert Mariano, chairman, president and CEO of Roundy’s. 

Roundy’s operates 150 retail grocery stores and 100 pharmacies under the Copps, Pick ’n Save, Metro Market and Mariano’s retail banners in Wisconsin and Illinois.