Co-op shops turns down the lights in its stores in a bid to cut energy bills

Co-op supermarkets and convenience stores are dimming the lighting in its stores to try to keep a lid on energy bills.

The chain has said it will introduce dimmer lighting to 500 of its stores, around a fifth of its total number in the the UK. According to its figures, the measures could reduce its electricity bills for a single store by up to £4,000 a year and it it is rolled out to all its 2,500 stores, the saving could be as much as £10m.

The retailer said in its interim results in September that energy and wage inflation increased costs in the first half of 2022 by around £50m, while grocery sales grew driven by an increase in shopping frequency.