JD Wetherspoons cuts energy cost by 7% per pub

Earlier this month the chain, which runs almost 800 pubs, announced increased like for like sales of 2.2% for the 50 weeks to July 10, against the same period last year.

Working with emissions reductions experts, Carbon Statement, the chain has also managed to reduce its energy costs by an average of 7% per pub.

The achievement is even more considerable when you take into account the fact the chain has also began opening at 7am, with sales of coffees and cooked breakfasts filling the tills and adding to energy bills.

But, with increased energy costs, coupled with cheap alcohol offered by supermarkets, the chain cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

Carbon Statement advised how simple, and often little changes in working practices help, like switching only one oven on at 9am instead of two.

They also found turning a second oven off after the lunchtime rush made a significant difference without hitting the pub’s lucrative food business.

To engage its pub managers in reducing energy the chain rolled out posters with tips as well as colour coded stickers for kitchen equipment on when they should be turned on or off.

It has also installed smart meters in every pub to collect and monitor ‘like for like’ energy consumption.

Carbon Statement then developed an online system to collate and measure energy usage, waste and recycling to provide each pub with a weekly report.

This helped individual, area and regional managers to track performance against carbon and energy reduction targets.

JD Wetherspoons general manager energy, Miles Slade, said: “As well as helping our managers to see clearly how their energy reducing behaviour impacts on the bottom line.

“By measuring and tracking emissions across all our areas of operation, and presenting this in a meaningful way to each pub manager, each week, helps me to track the business’s performance against targets.”

Luke Walsh