A leading Welsh food wholesaler has clinched a deal to help one of the UK\u2019s top universities go greener.<\/p>\n
Harlech Foodservice delivery lorries and vans will be regular callers at Keele University, in Staffordshire, which has 10,000 students on its campus and has been ranked the UK\u2019s fifth best university by students.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a major coup for the fast-growing business which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and is benefiting from its decision to open a second major distribution hub in Chester.<\/p>\n
Harlech Commercial Director Mark Lawton said: \u201cThe opening of our depot and sales office in Chester means that we\u2019re right on the doorstep for a prestigious university like Keele where we are supplying general food and meat products.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat helped us clinch the deal was that we can help them reduce their carbon footprint by supplying them with more sustainably-sourced products and by our own efforts to be greener.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a contract we have been able to compete for because we are now within range and able to provide prompt deliveries which also helps them reduce their carbon footprint.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work we are doing to cut our own carbon use impressed them and convinced them we were a company they could work with and do some work on joint initiatives including carbon offsetting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat definitely helps is that we source so much of our product range from North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire which reduces their food miles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emma Woodcock, Head of Business Development at Keele University, said: \u201cWe’re committed to sustainability and to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and part of that commitment is reducing our food miles and Harlech will help us do that while supplying high quality produce.<\/p>\n