Azzurri Group, the UK hospitality platform operating ASK Italian, Zizzi, and Coco di Mama, has reported a 7% reduction in carbon emissions intensity during 2024, according to its fourth annual Sustainable Dining Report. The company achieved this environmental improvement while expanding its restaurant portfolio and adding new brands to its operations.
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per £1 million turnover, builds on the previous year’s 9.7% decrease. The group’s progress aligns with its commitment to achieve net-zero operations by 2040, demonstrating how sustainability initiatives can be maintained during business expansion.
Key to the emissions reduction was a decrease in electricity consumption of 1.3 million kWh across operations, equivalent to the energy needed to cook 1.9 million pizzas. The company achieved this through targeted energy efficiency programs and behavioral change campaigns across its restaurants.
Azzurri Group: Supply chain and construction innovations
The group’s sustainability efforts extended beyond operational improvements to include supply chain partnerships. A notable example is ASK Italian’s collaboration with Wildfarmed, a regenerative flour producer, which helped reduce the brand’s dough-related carbon footprint by 50%.
Construction and renovation projects also reflected the company’s environmental commitment, with three new restaurants achieving SKA Gold certification in 2024. This rigorous third-party assessment verifies environmental best practices in building fitouts, with Zizzi Bridgend, ASK Italian Merry Hill, and Zizzi Chatham among the latest certified locations.
Community engagement remained a priority, with the group making significant progress toward its goal of donating half a million meals by 2030. Since 2022, the company has donated and redistributed over 250,000 meals through various initiatives, including Coco Di Mama’s partnership with Olio for food bank distributions and ASK Italian’s collaboration with FareShare.
Steve Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Azzurri Group, emphasized the company’s evolving approach to sustainability: “Since we defined our purpose, mission and values back in 2021, our commitment to being a more sustainable business has grown year on year. This approach has meant sustainability is now woven into our decision making and the way we operate.”
The report also highlighted the group’s broader community involvement, including 500 volunteer hours contributed since 2021. These efforts, combined with supply chain improvements and operational efficiency measures, demonstrate how restaurant groups can maintain environmental progress while pursuing business growth.
The company’s sustainable dining report connects these initiatives to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, placing the group’s efforts within the context of global sustainability objectives. This alignment shows how restaurant chains can contribute to broader environmental and social goals while maintaining commercial success.
