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Metcash Food & Grocery

OVERALL

Owned
AUS
Rating
Criticisms

Grocery distribution

Supplier to approximately 2,400 independently-owned supermarkets and convenience stores across Australia including IGA, Foodland, Foodworks and Lucky 7. IGA stands for 'Independent Grocers of Australia'. While IGA stores are independently owned, the IGA brand is owned by Metcash.

Company Ownership

Metcash Food & Grocery Pty Ltd   AUS     website   email      
  Metcash Ltd   
   owns 100% of Metcash Food & Grocery Pty Ltd  
AUS     website   email      

Distribution and wholesaling

Metcash has 3 business pillars: Metcash Food & Grocery (supplier to supermarkets and convenience stores including IGA), Australian Liquor Marketers (supplier to over 12,000 liquor retailers including Cellarbrations) and Mitre 10 (hardware). Metcash distributes primarily to independently owned stores. Acquired Home Timber & Hardware Group from Woolworths in 2016.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Metcash Food & Grocery Pty Ltd
Business Ethics IGA Community Chest
IGA Community Chest and associated programs have raised over $60 million for local community groups, not-for-profit organisations, charities and other causes. This money has assisted over 7,000 causes.
Source: company website (2014)
Metcash Ltd
Environment Australian Packaging Covenant signatory
Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation.
Source: Australian Packaging Covenant (2020)
Animals High free range stocking densities
For eggs to be labelled free range, the Model Code of Practice says there should be a maximum of 1500 hens per hectare. In 2020 Choice updated its list of which egg brands meet the Model Code. According to the report, this company uses a stocking density of 10,000 hens per hectare for its Community Co free range eggs, well in excess of the Model Code.
Source: Choice (2020)
Business Ethics Involvement in gambling
In Nov 2012 Metcash bought its first pub, joining Coles and Woolworths in the poker machine business for the first time. Metcash now owns 5 hotels with gaming facilities, all in Queensland, with more pub purchases expected to follow. The move has been criticised by anti-gambling campaigners such as Get Up! and senator Nick Xenophon.
Source: GetUp! (2012)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of D
In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of D.
Source: CDP (2021)
Environment CDP Forests Score of D
In 2018, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of D.
Source: CDP (2018)
Business Ethics 28/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 28/100 in the Food & Staples Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2021)
Environment Palm oil scorecard - WWF
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 assesses 173 companies on the commitments they have made, and the actions they have taken, to ensure that there is no destruction of nature including no deforestation along their supply chains; and support a responsible and sustainable palm oil industry beyond their own supply chain. This company failed to respond to WWF's requests for information.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2019 (2019)
Environment Renewable energy use
Greenpeace's Reenergise campaign ranks Australia's biggest electricity using companies on their commitments and actions regarding renewable energy use. This company has: not committed to powering their operations by 100% renewable electricity by 2030; not signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from a wind or solar project; has invested in on-site solar.
Source: Greenpeace (2021)
Social Supply chain sourcing
This 2013 report by The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) investigates the labour and human rights risks in supply chain sourcing. This company is identified on page 21 as a company which sources products from countries with known systemic labour and human rights concerns.
Source: ACSI (2013)
Social Tobacco - indirect
Involved in sale of tobacco-related products as a non-core business.
Source: company website (2020)
Social Modern Slavery Statement disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 100 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX100). This company ranked #79 of 100 companies.
Source: Monash University (2021)
Animals Yellow rating in Canned Tuna Guide
Yellow rating in Greenpeace Canned Tuna Guide. "IGA's private labels came 7th. IGA has made big improvements to labelling and transparency in the past, but they still need to get to know their supply chain better. IGA needs to improve its sustainability and social responsibility policies. Labelling on catch method and tuna species is inconsistent across its private labels. IGA needs to improve its transparency in backing up its claims. Some IGA stores stock the worst performing brand, Greenseas, but individual store owners determine stocklines."
Source: Canned Tuna Guide (2017)
Business Ethics Political donations
According to the democracyforsale.net website, this company donated $197,018 to Australia's major political parties between 2012 and 2018, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
Source: Democracy For Sale (2018)
Environment Packaging Award 2014
This company won an award in 2014 from the Australian Packaging Covenant, for demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability by performing 'above and beyond' in their efforts to minimise waste. This company achieved the highest overall score in their category, Retailer.
Source: Australian Packaging Covenant (2014)
Social Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA (2022)
Business Ethics CSR claims
This company has Corporate Social Responsibility claims on its website under the headings People & Community, Responsible Sourcing, and Environment.
Source: company website (2020)
Environment Previous link to APP
In July 2011 Greenpeace revealed that IGA was buying its toilet paper from Indonesia's most notorious rainforest destroyer, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Metcash terminated its contract with APP shortly afterwards.
Source: Greenpeace (2011)
Social Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary

Contact Details

Address 50 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia
Phone 02 9741 3000
Website www.iga.com.au

Products / Brands

Metcash Food & Grocery
Black & Gold House Brands
Community Co House Brands
Foodland (SA) Stores are independently owned Stores are independently owned  Supermarkets
Foodland (SA) House Brands
IGA Stores are independently owned Stores are independently owned  Supermarkets
IGA House Brands
No Frills House Brands
Purely Organic certified organic certified organic  House Brands
Signature House Brands
Summer Dry Beer


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