Cost cutting sees Duffy’s go green
MEET OUR FINALISTS: BEST GREEN BUSINESS
A green ethos has seen Duffy’s Costcutter reach the wonderful landmark of a century in business. Of course James Duffy, who founded the Shercock grocery store as James Duffy & Co 103 years ago, back in 1922, wouldn’t have used a modern buzz word of green. Nor would his son Pabo Duffy, who took over the running of the business aged just 14 years. Duffy’s environmental approach was simply a byproduct, of that other driving force: the profit motive.
“My father was a great believer of: Profit is what you don’t throw in the bin,” explains Raymond, the third generation of Duffys to run the business.
“He was very very good at minimising waste. If he saw some products coming close to their expiry date, he would wonder, could the girls bake with them? Or could he put them on special offer? He would do anything else other than put them in a bin.”
Appreciating that savings should follow investment, when it came to replacing their refrigeration system, Raymond prioritised energy efficiency and long-term savings.
“The fridge we bought was probably the dearest we could have bought, but it’s one of the most economical ones. So, in the long run, you’d like to think it pays for itself.”It’s using a lot less electricity – it’s using about 25% of the electricity the last one used.”
That had followed an upgrade of Duffy’s lighting system to LED.
“I could see a massive saving in my building,” he recalls. “It’s nice to be fit to help the environment, selfishly we were doing it for our own benefit from the start, but you might take a step further because it’s the green option.”
The Celt wonders if the profit motive is the best way to pursue the green agenda?
“In our game, it’s the only way,” insists Raymond, “because our margins are so so tight and it’s so hard to make a profit that it has to be the first thing to consider. It’s nice, and if it brings in a bit of custom because you’ve done something which the public is happy with, that’s a bonus, but it has to start with the financial end.”
Next on Raymond’s to-do list is to invest in energy solutions for the store - either solar or wind. He is eager to have a storage battery system to maximise the benefit.
“To do it, and to do it right, is a major investment. So you have to sit down with people and say, when am I going to get a turn out of this?”
These larger products are supplemented by smaller gestures, such as staff living nearby taking it upon themselves to walk or cycle to work when the weather behaves. As for the perennial problem of perishables reaching expiry, which faced Pabo Duffy and every other grocery store owner?
“We have several staff with hens and chickens and pigs at home – all the vegetable and food waste never goes into the bin. That originated with Pabo.”
Raymond is “very honoured” to be nominated for the award.
“To be in the same bracket as larger companies, I’m honoured because we are only small fry doing very little,” he said modestly.
CONTACT US
Duffy’s Costcutter is based at Market House, Shercock. Call 042966921 or email duffyscostcutter@gmail.com