Megamark takes loan of €15 million from the Cassa Centrale Group for energy transition and the reduction of environmental impact
- The initiative is aimed at implementing the Megamark Group sales network's third energy efficiency project and involves 6 sales points located in Apulia and Campania, for a total area of approximately 14,000 m2, which will be redeveloped between 2023 and 2024. The total investment is 21 million euros.
- Estimated total energy savings of approximately 2.5 GWh/year equal to 34%, which corresponds to a reduction of approximately 470 toe/year of primary energy and roughly 737 tons of CO2/year.
- The pool loan sees the participation, alongside Cassa Centrale Banca, of 5 Apulia-based BCCs [Cooperative Credit Bank]: BCC San Marzano di SG, BCC Locorotondo, BCC Cassano delle Murge and Tolve, BCC Conversano and BCC Alta Murgia.
Trani, 05.10.2023 – Cassa Centrale Banca, together with 5 affiliated Apulia-based BCCs (BCC San Marzano as proposing entity, BCC Locorotondo, BCC Cassano delle Murge e Tolve, BCC Conversano and BCC Alta Murgia), is providing €15 million for the Megamark Group sales network's energy transition, for a total investment of €21 million. This is the third project of this type by the leading company in Southern Italy for organised distribution, with over 500 direct and affiliated supermarkets present in Apulia, Campania, Molise, Basilicata and Calabria under the Famila, Dok, Sole 365 and A&O brands. There are 6 stores involved, located between Apulia and Campania (Mottola, Molfetta, Gallipoli, Vitulazio, Squinzano, Piedimonte Matese).
The growing attention to energy efficiency in relation to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the relevance assumed by ESG issues, especially in the services sector, has also prompted retail purchasing consortiums (GDO) - in particular in the food sector, which is more energy-intensive than average due to cold chain consumption for food preservation - to consider, in a structured manner, the opportunity of implementing energy efficiency measures for its sales and logistics networks.
In this context, the Megamark Group, which has been a pioneer in Southern Italy in commercial development since the mid-1980s, has launched an energy transition plan for its sales network in 2019, in conjunction with 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 renovated between 2023 and 2024.
The restyling project involves the use of "top of the market" technologies for the cold chain, air conditioning, lighting, electrical and automation and control systems in each individual store.
Thanks to the renovation of each superstore, efficiency improvements will affect all energy-intensive systems used in commercial activities, for a total surface area of approximately 14,000 m2. The estimated total saving is approximately 2.5 GWh/year, equal to 34%, which corresponds to a reduction of approximately 470 toe/year of primary energy and roughly 737 tons of CO2/year.
This initiativet falls within the scope of the Cassa Centrale Group's commitment to support companies' investments into ecological transition, in line with the objectives set by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). Environmental protection is one of the founding elements that unites the mission of the Cassa Centrale Group and the Megamark Group, aimed at promoting eco-compatible actions and investing along a development path which is increasingly inspired by sustainability criteria.
“We are very satisfied to be able to support the Megamark Group's effective energy efficiency plan", – underlines Sandro Bolognesi, CEO of Cassa Centrale Banca. – "Support for the ecological transition of companies is one of the priorities we have set in our path of sustainable growth, in line with the sense of responsibility to the communities in which we operate. This operation is certainly among the most significant that has been financed as a Group in Apulia, which is an extremely important region for us".
"The idea of being able to make a green change in harmony with Europe" – declares the Cavaliere del Lavoro Giovanni Pomarico, President of the Megamark Group – "fills us with pride. Leaving the planet we found to future generations is the challenge that institutions, businesses and the public should pursue on a daily basis. Thanks to the support of Cassa Centrale Banca and the mutual banks that took part in the operation, we want to complete this third project within the next few months, which once again saw the contribution of the La Sapienza University of Rome and Studio Santi; at present, we have already made changes to 22 stores and other projects will follow to make our business as sustainable as possible".
Cassa Centrale Banca and the Megamark Group are supported by the NCTM law firm as legal advisor, which acted as transaction counsel.