More sustainable ways like turning freezers off at night, switching to LED lighting and using electric delivery vehicles are some of the methods that are becoming a lot more attractive for wholesalers amid the rise in energy bills and other costs, FWD Chief Executive James Bielby revealed on Thursday (5).
As energy bills soar, almost doubling for some, wholesalers are going for cost savings, Bielby wrote in Wholesale News.
“Fridge, freezer and heater maintenance suddenly jumps from an easily overlooked facilities management issue to top of the pile in the financial director’s inbox,” Bielby stated.
Wholesalers tell us they are looking at turning freezers off at night, as they will hold temperature. If they haven’t already done so, they’re switching to LED lighting and installing timers and motion-activated switches where possible.
Solar and wind-power as well as smaller electric vehicles are also gaining wholesalers’ attention.
“Beyond that, they’re exploring solar and wind-power generation and gradually replacing delivery fleets with smaller electric vehicles.
Wholesalers are also increasing delivery efficiency, raising the minimum order limit, and in the case of one Northern Ireland distributor, “nipping over the border to fill the trucks, as diesel is 20p a litre cheaper in the Republic”, Bielby stated.
FWD chief has also called on the government to take corrective measures and funding to wholesalers and suppliers.
“If there is funding to be had to offset the cost-of-living crisis, then it must surely be made available to those who distribute food, and if those distributors supply vital public sector contracts, the government undoubtedly wants to invest to make sure those supply lines are not threatened,” he concluded.
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