(Finance) – Cassa Centrale Banca, together with 5 affiliated Apulian BCCs (BCC San Marzano as proponent, BCC Locorotondo, BCC Cassano delle Murge and Tolve, BCC Conversano and BCC Alta Murgia), provides 15 million euros for the energy transition of the Megamark Group’s sales network, for a total investment of 21 million euros.
This is – explains the note – “the third project of this type by the leading company in Southern Italy for organized distribution, with over 500 direct and affiliated supermarkets present in Puglia, Campania, Molise, Basilicata and Calabria under the Famila, Dok, Sole 365 and A&O brands. There are 6 sales points involved, located between Puglia and Campania (Mottola, Molfetta, Gallipoli, Vitulazio, Squinzano, Piedimonte Matese)”.
There growing attention to energy efficiency in relation to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the relevance assumed by ESG issues, especially in the tertiary sector, has also led large-scale retail trade companies (GDO) – in particular in the food sector, which is more energy intensive than average due to cold chain consumption for food preservation – to a structured reflection on the opportunity to implement energy efficiency measures of its sales and logistics networks.
In this context, the Megamark Group, pioneer in Southern Italy of commercial development since the mid-1980s, it launched an energy transition plan for its sales network in 2019, on the occasion of the periodic renovations of supermarkets throughout their life cycle. The plan already includes the redevelopment of 22 stores, in addition to the 6 that will be the subject of the intervention between 2023 and 2024.
The project of rstyling involves the use of technologies “top of the market” for the cold chain, air conditioning, lighting, electrical and automation and control systems of the individual stores. Thanks to the renovation of each superstore, the efficiency improvement will affect all energy-intensive systems serving the commercial activity, for a total surface area of approximately 14,000 m2. THEThe total estimated saving is approximately 2.5 GWh/year, equal to 34%, which corresponds to a reduction of approximately 470 toe/year of primary energy and approximately 737 tons of CO2/year.
“We are very satisfied to be able to support the virtuous energy efficiency plan of the Megamark Group – points out Sandro Bolognesi, CEO of Cassa Centrale Banca – Support for the ecological transition of businesses is one of the priorities we have given ourselves in our path of sustainable growth, in line with the sense of responsibility towards the communities in which we operate. This operation is certainly among the most important financed as a Group in Puglia, a very important region for us”.
“The idea of being able to make a green change in harmony with Europe – declares the Knight of Labor Giovanni Pomarico, President of the Megamark Group – makes us proud. Leaving the planet we found to future generations is the challenge that institutions, businesses and citizens should pursue day after day. Thanks to the support of Cassa Centrale Banca and the mutual banks that took part in the operation, we want to conclude this third project within the next few months, which once again saw the contribution of La Sapienza University of Rome and Studio Santi; at the moment we have already intervened in 22 points of sale and other projects will follow to make our business as sustainable as possible”.
The intervention is part of the Cassa Centrale Group’s commitment to support companies’ investments in the ecological transition also in line with the objectives set by the PNRR. Environmental protection is one of the founding elements that unites the mission of the Cassa Centrale Group and the Megamark Group, aimed at promote eco-compatible actions and invest on a development path increasingly inspired by sustainability criteria.
Cassa Centrale Banca and the Megamar Groupk – closes the note – are supported by the NCTM law firm as legal advisor, which acted as transaction counsel.