Sainsbury’s shops for a self supply licence

Supermarket and retail giant J Sainsbury has applied for self supply water and sewerage licence (WSSL).

Sainsbury’s – which has 1,400 supermarkets, 900 Argos stores and other interests including Sainsbury’s Bank, Tu, Habitat and Nectar – switched to two retailers when the water market opened.

Ofwat reported Sainsbury’s has turned to self supply now to “further opportunities for innovation” as well as have a voice in the market and gain control of its data to inform its water targets (it has already reduced consumption by 1bn litres since 2005/6, and has a broad environmental and sustainability strategy aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals).

The supermarket’s long standing partner, Waterscan, will act as managing agent. Ofwat is consulting on the WSSL application until 1 April.