Fresh produce companies in the West Midlands are capitalising on a scheme to increase bulk deliveries through a new service.
Heart of England Fine Foods (HEFF), the regional food group for the area, has organised delivery runs from several hubs in the region, which allow retailers to benefit from smaller, more varied orders - reducing food miles in the process.
With the help of three HEFF-branded vehicles, deliveries can be taken throughout the six counties and backloading has been implemented to mitigate further the environmental impact of the HEFF delivery service.
The initiative, operated in partnership with logistics provider Heart Distribution, is an IGD Food Industry Awards finalist in the ECR Sustainable Distribution category.
Patrick Lewis, managing director of Herefordshire-based potato supplier Gamber Produce, which acts as a collection hub for a wide range of local products, told freshinfo: “It’s still early days in working with HEFF, but it has been very positive so far and the delivery service means that businesses can enter into outlets on a small scale with less risk.”
HEFF has made considerable strides in promoting local produce. It has introduced a number of branded Savour the Flavour vending machines stocking local food in schools in the region, as well as hosting meet-the-buyer events to help advance supply chains.
Gamber Produce is looking to harness HEFF’s links to promote its local potatoes. Lewis added: “We deliberately don’t supply the larger supermarkets as it’s a saturated market dominated by packers, but our focus would be on a business like Spar.”
Aconbury Sprouts, which was a finalist in this year’s HEFF Diamond Awards, is also looking to raise the profile of the region’s produce further.
Jim Hardy, managing director, told freshinfo that demand for the company’s organic produce has remained strong. He said: “Business has been tough in the recession, but we have built a new BRC-accredited packing facility. The delivery service seems very positive and it’s down to producers to promote and increase its use.”
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