Cotswold Fayre releases latest Impact report

Fine food wholesaler, Cotswold Fayre has today (6) released its third annual Impact Report, an insightful extension of a traditional annual report that looks at the company’s effect on the world as well as its financial performance.

Despite the challenges of the ‘second Covid year’ Cotswold Fayre continued to focus on its B-Corporation ethos of improving its social and environmental impact for people, communities and the planet.

The company has long extolled the opinion that doing good has a positive effect on the bottom line. This opinion has been well and truly borne out, with the company announcing astonishing growth of 50 percent.

Paul Hargreaves, CEO at Cotswold Fayre, says: “We have continued to encourage retailers to consolidate deliveries, which of course as a wholesaler is something close to our hearts.  This not only improves our aim for increased sustainability but also improves retailers’ environmental footprint too.

“The past year has proved that being a B Corp has a hugely positive commercial impact, with customers actively seeking this accreditation from suppliers and retailers looking for products from B Corp suppliers.

“We are delighted that we now have 39 B Corp suppliers and are helping more obtain certification with our B Corp Accelerator Programme launched earlier this year.”

Over the last twelve months, Cotswold Fayre offered more than 600 plastic-free products within the range and a large majority of products now use packaging that is easier to recycle.

It has also continued switching company vehicles to electric or hybrid. Between 2020 and 2021, 9.8 tonnes of CO2 were saved just by moving to a more efficient vehicle. Last year only 67 percent of vehicles in the fleet were electric or hybrid, now it stands at 100%!

For the first time, the company’s report also includes Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen, which opened its doors a year ago, in June 2021.

Having recruited 60 new employees, the total number of employees is 94.  The team, attracted by and fully embracing Cotswold Fayre’s ethos, carried out almost 500 hours of volunteering spread across 16 charities.

From the beginning Flourish set out to be a food retailer and kitchen with a conscience, putting people and planet at the forefront.  Sourcing local suppliers and working with Too Good to Go to eliminate food waste, are just some of the initiatives that Flourish has introduced.

Flourish received the Rising Star Award 2022 from the Farm Retail Association, which celebrates ambitious new businesses in the sector.

Paul Hargreaves continues: “There is no doubt that the exceptional growth over the past year is a true representation of all our hard work. With our motivated team and passion to make a change we are confident that we will continue to grow over the upcoming years.

“Flourish adds an exciting new dimension to our business and we are excited for the positive opportunities and learnings that this represents for the future.

“While we have made some significant steps regarding our environmental impact, this will continue to be a priority for our business.  We are now supporting land afforestation projects, which means that we can help remove carbon rather than only compensate for our emissions.”