CEO - Cotswold Fayre & Flourish, Author "Forces for Good" & "The Fourth Bottom Line", Key Note Speaker & Podcast Host
As you know I am passionate about sustainability, so am very pleased that The Independent newspaper has picked up on our efforts in this area in their recent Business Reporter series. We were the first UK wholesaler to be B Corp UK certified back in 2015 and, as far as I am aware, we are still the only certified Carbon Neutral wholesaler with a clear plan towards Net Zero by 2030. There is still much more to do, but our social and environmental excellence costs us well into six figures per year, which we think is important. The challenge for us is that not enough of our retail customers are of a similar mind, and still choose to buy products and deal with other wholesalers with little or no sustainability credentials. The landscape is changing, however, and it is our belief that consumers will drive the transformation and demand that retailers up their game. Cotswold Fayre, a certified B Corporation can help retailers do this through our expertise and knowledge. The big questions are: 🍏 How important is sustainability to consumers with the current cost of living crisis? 🍏 How quickly will retailers make sustanability their No. 1 factor in buying decsisions? What are your thoughts? Are you encouraged or depressed by the speed of movement? To watch the full video, click here: https://lnkd.in/eFmzJcDJ
We’ve been working with the Independent Business Reporter in their recent Best of British and Responsible Business features. As the UK's leading carbon-neutral wholesaler of specialty foods to independent retailers, Cotswold Fayre has been a driving force in the industry. CEO and Founder Paul Hargreaves, was recently awarded the Outstanding Industry Champion at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair. Watch our latest video, as Paul Hargreaves explains why businesses must be a force for good and why doing the right thing socially and environmentally will provide a better and more profitable business by visiting: https://ow.ly/8Isw50Q524F Learn how retailers can use Cotswold Fayre as an extension of their own brand and in partnership, make a difference to people’s lives. “Buy what you can locally and get everything else from us” We deliver ambient, chilled and frozen fine food throughout the UK. Trust Cotswold Fayre today to help you build a better business for tomorrow. #Food #Finefood #Wholesale #wholesalefood #Bcorp #Greattaste #B2B #Cotswoldfayre #Ambient #Chilled
Thank you for sharing; great video. Everything you stand for resonated hugely, and it's fantastic that The Independent has acknowledged your outstanding efforts. Like yourselves, we were the first company in our industry to be dual certified as B-Corp and carbon balanced, with a clear plan to be Net Zero by 2030. We are committed, like you, to making a difference despite the additional cost. It’s great to be a supplier to a company like yours that shares the same principles and values. Service combined with social and environmental responsibility should be a top priority as a consumer; when it is, things will change. Sustainability is important to consumers; however, from our experience within our industry, price will always be the first factor considered and will continue to be the case during these testing times. It can be discouraging; however, we can only do what is within our control. If we all do what we can to make a change, to make a difference, that has to be better than doing nothing. We can only continue to do what we can and focus on changes within our power to do better and hope that others follow suit and make wiser choices, not just on price alone. Great post and continue with your fantastic work!
Many factors in our failed, unsustainable systems with clashing agendas are converging. There is a yawning gap in leadership giving people of vision and practical experience like yourselves and many others, the great challenge and opportunity to step forward. We need a movement. More power to you/us.
BRAVO Paul, BRAVO! Keep up your amaizng work!!! @sian young I wonder if you have met Paul yet?
Great work Paul Hargreaves
Recruitment Process Expert - Award-Winning Speaker - Avid Scuba Diver
11moThis theme was constant at Anthropy last week. We don't seem to have a govt that is prepared to regulate quickly or deeply enough to create long term systemic change, hobbled as they are by the need to win votes on a too-short cycle of people pleasing; and (perceived or real) costs are a huge factor for many, or simply eco-stuff just isn't front of mind or important. The future of sustainability and our planet may well come down to business doing the right thing (environmentally and ethically) and leaving both govt and consumers with no choice other than to fall into line.