Food manufacturing specialist Wrights has recently announced a £1.3m investment in a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles. The new fleet comprises eight new vehicles fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is expected to bring about a 95% reduction in carbon emissions.
The Crewe-based manufacturer, which operates across three sites, supplies and distributes sweet and savory bakery products and ready meals into the hospitality and retail sectors as part of The Compleat Food Group. The new fleet includes heavy-duty tractor units, rigid vehicles, and shop vehicles that transport items baked in Crewe to local shops and businesses across the North West, typically transporting frozen goods to customers across the UK.
“We are working hard to get ahead of the government-set target of reducing carbon emissions by 2030. This is a mission which sits alongside our wider Group’s Environmental, Social and Governance targets, which include a commitment here in Crewe of making a 50% reduction of our 2021 carbon emission levels by 2030 and a 90% reduction on 2021 carbon emission levels by 2035,” said the group’s Crewe-based Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance manager Paul Strangwood.
Strangwood further added that while the carbon emission reduction of the new vehicles is integral to the investment, the new fleet also offers additional benefits. This includes onboard fridges and freezers that are generator-driven from the vehicles’ engines, reducing the environmental impact even further. The company has also equipped the new vehicles with additional home comforts, including larger bunks, upgraded cabin seats, and more cupboard space, supporting drivers when they need to be away overnight.
“This investment reflects our values and commitment to doing good business from concept to plate and from employees through to our customers. Our plan is to review and replace our current fleet as they are due to be renewed,” added Strangwood.
Wrights was established in 1926 by Jack and Lizzie Wright, who sold pies to neighbors from their Stoke-on-Trent doorstep. The company’s Crewe-based 600-strong workforce manufactures and distributes savory pastries, sweet bakery, and ready meals into retail and foodservice sectors and manages 15 Wrights branded bakery stores across the North West. Its £30million manufacturing facility in Crewe produces more than three million savory products per week, including gastro pub pies and ready meals for the retail and hospitality sector.
David Moore, Compleat Food Group’s Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), expressed his opinion regarding the new fleet investment decision, saying, “Decarbonizing our fleet is an important step on our journey to Net Zero. Moving from diesel to CNG is a crucial step for us, and to have made this investment, we are showing our commitment to achieving our Net Zero targets.”
Overall, Wrights’ decision to invest in an eco-friendly fleet highlights its commitment to sustainability, enabling the company to align its business practices with its ESG goals.
