Asda NI First Retailer awarded ‘CORE’ in Northern Ireland

Asda NI awarded coveted CORE accreditation by Business in the Community – marking its commitment to Corporate Responsibility

Asda NI was awarded the prestigious Gold Level CORE accreditation at Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland at Belfast Waterfront Hall on Thursday 24 May.

CORE is Business in the Community’s framework for identifying and measuring corporate responsibility activity and performance across organisations. It is designed to help businesses that are committed to integrating corporate responsibility into the way they do business. Asda NI is one of only six organisations to achieve gold level status this year.

More than 470 business people from across Northern Ireland attended the glittering gala dinner to see Northern Ireland’s leading responsible companies recognised for their outstanding contributions to their people, the planet and the places where they operate.

Joe McDonald, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs Asda NI, said: “Achieving Gold Level CORE accreditation is a significant milestone for Asda NI. Not only as we are the first retailer to achieve the status in Northern Ireland, as well as the first CORE entrant to secure the highest level of accreditation on initial entry – but it also reflects our continued commitment to acting as a responsible business.

“From stakeholder engagement and marketplace responsibility, to responsible leadership and a strong relationship with the communities in which we operate, the accreditation showcases Asda’s awareness of its duty to local customers and suppliers – and how ‘doing the right’ thing can make a real impact on their lives and well-being. At Asda, we aim to showcase best practice on a local scale, and beyond.”

Kieran Harding, Managing Director of Business in the Community, added: “CORE strategically supports companies to develop and improve their approach to corporate responsibility. It is made up of ten assessed areas that enable companies to map their entire corporate responsibility activity and performance, and benchmark it against other organisations. The process is very stringent – it is verified by external assessors, and overseen by an independent panel of experts. By completing the Standard, companies gain a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, providing a baseline for next steps and further improvements. Congratulations to the ten organisations that achieved CORE this year – the Standard is extremely high and you should all be very proud of your commitment to responsible business.”

To find out more about CORE – the Standard for Responsible Business, please visit: www.bitcni.org.uk