Foodservice giant Compass has signed a deal with ethylene control technology company Fresh Pod to better manage its fresh produce supply chain.
The catering firm said it has invested in the technology, which removes the ripening hormone ethylene from produce and extends shelf life, because produce is moved around quickly through its ordering system and catering division.
It said the ethylene control is growing in popularity in the catering industry, and Fresh Pod technology removes 99 per cent of the hormone from air surrounding produce.
Compass’ executive chef Nick Vadis said: “Reducing food waste is really important to us and Fresh Pod represents an innovative and effortless way to support our continuing efforts in this area.”
Fresh Pod won the deal after a Dragon’s Den style ‘Ideas Work’ process, aimed at giving new products and services to pitch concepts to heads of companies such as Compass.
Its website states that Fresh Pod products can extend the life of fruit and vegetables by up to four times.
The company also claims to be the sole distributor of ethylene control products in the UK. Its technology can be used in individual fresh produce packs, cold storage systems or shipping and retail storage.
Valerie Watson-Brown, a director at Fresh Pod, said: “If more companies in hospitality and the catering industry adopted similar policies on waste and food preservation then not only will savings be made, but the benefits to the environment will be tenfold.”
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