Fresh Direct has reduced its landfill by 90% in the last 12 months
Tell me more about Fresh Direct Local
Tell me more about Fresh Gro

Environment

A focus on readdressing our impact on the roads...
  • FD invested early in the Euro 4 policy throughout fleet
    • lowering carbon emissions on the 4 main pollutants
    • gearing towards an improvement of 30% on the previous policy
  • By Q3 of 2008 we ensured 40% of our fleet could run off biofuel
  • Our Carbon Reducing Calculator (CRC)
    • monitoring emissions, mileage, and poor driving
    • aids our Transport team with more responsible decisions
  • Backhauling for reduced ‘pallets of air’
    • offering collaborative supply service for customers
    • ensuring vehicles don’t leave the depot half empty

Recycling

  • FD can now recycle every material coming through the supply chain
    • paper
    • cardboard
    • hard and soft plastics
    • wood
    • polystyrene
  • We have achieved - and are continuously working towards - a reduction of £0.5m worth cardboard PA
  • Wasted product either goes for animal feed or is put through our composter
  • Our wood crusher donates a constant stream of reconditioned wood to a local furniture maker
  • We are working towards a direct distribution estate, with 100% plastic, returnable trays

Procurement

Responsible procurement
  • We offer growers long term contracts – this is both rare and offers stability in a non-trading environment
  • We work with key growers to amalgamate deliveries across different product groups – this is up and running with our Spanish growers already
  • FD supports Fairtrade products, which campaigns and supports better conditions for third world growers
  • FD offers full traceability on all products as standard
  • The Company operates at the highest level of the BRC accreditation and associated systems

What is Fresh Direct Local?

  • Reducing our carbon footprint further
  • Supporting regionally and locally operating farmers/growers
  • Allowing customers true local sourcing potential
  • Moving vehicles closer to the customer
  • We are looking to reduce Locals units’ vehicle fleet by introducing efficiencies

What is FreshGro?

  • The FreshGro initiative promotes and supports British farming
  • It reduces the risk associated with growing by direct contracts
  • FreshGro supports the reduction of food miles by working with farmers/growers close to FD operations
  • It encourages the promotion of new/forgotten varieties to increase produce sourced from the UK

Education

  • The Fresh Direct Academy – educating for the future
  • The Academy includes a junior chef course & free school‘enrichment’ days
  • Our Development Chefs take part in around 20 schools eventsa year to promote healthy eating and culinary education to our next generation
  • Our Marketing function designs and donates free display material to local schools, educating on fresh produce

Charity

  • We have a dedicated local charity, voted for by employees
  • We run The Barley Ball – Oxfordshire’s most exclusive charity ball
  • We regularly donate fresh fruit for local sporting events and for local schools during exams
View our history
Fresh Direct is proud to be running 30 vehicles less - whilst serving nearly double the amount of customers than our nearest competitor
During 2007, Fresh Direct donated and raised more than £30,000 for local and national charities