Giant Food launches Loop in Washington metro area
Regional grocery chain Giant Food has launched a new platform that allows local shoppers to purchase a selection of products in reusable packaging.
Under the new partnership between Giant Food and Loop, the circular reuse platform developed by TerraCycle, customers can now walk into any of the 10 local participating Giant supermarkets and purchase more than 20 products from consumer brands, all packaged in reusable containers instead of single-use packaging.
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"Giant is proud to be the first grocery retailer on the east coast to launch a partnership with Loop, a global leader in eliminating waste, and offer our customers a program that allows them to shop for products while helping our environment," said Diane Couchman, vice president category management, non-perishables at Giant Food. "We look forward to expanding our Loop item offerings and launching in more Giant locations in the near future."
The assortment of products in reusable Loop containers will come from brands such as Kraft-Heinz, Nature's Path and Stubb's BBQ Sauce and will be found in branded displays at participating Giant stores. When finished with a product, the empty packaging is returned to a Loop Return Point at any of the participating stores. From there, the containers are sent to Loop to be sanitized, then returned to the CPG suppliers to be refilled and returned to the store for future purchase. Customers are charged a small packaging deposit at checkout, and a full refund is given once the container is returned, the company said.
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"Loop's goal has always been to make reusable packaging as convenient for consumers as disposable packaging," says Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle and Loop. "With Giant as the newest retailer bringing Loop to consumers, we are giving them what they've been asking for since Loop was introduced in 2019: the ability to forgo single-use packaging and purchase the products they use every day in durable, reusable containers."
To maintain sanitation standards for all reusable containers, Loop consults with Ecolab Inc. — a global brand in cleaning and hygiene solutions — to identify proper equipment and design on-site cleaning procedures.
Here is a list of stores participating in the Loop program:
GIANT FOOD 237: 25050 RIDING PLZ STE 100, CHANTILLY, VA, 20152
GIANT FOOD 2742: 621 E GLEBE RD, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22305
GIANT FOOD 2379: 3336 WISCONSIN AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20016
GIANT FOOD 775: 13330 FRANKLIN FARM RD, HERNDON, VA, 20171
GIANT FOOD 2376: 1400 7TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20001
GIANT FOOD 762: 21800 TOWNCENTER PLZ STE 226, STERLING, VA, 20164
GIANT FOOD 744: 5740 UNION MILL RD, CLIFTON, VA, 20124
GIANT FOOD 774: 2515 COLUMBIA PIKE, ARLINGTON, VA, 22204
GIANT FOOD 794: 20961 SOUTHBANK ST, STERLING, VA, 20165
GIANT FOOD 745: 13043 LEE JACKSON MEMORIAL HWY # H, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033