Employee Sustainability Engagement

Shirley DuncalfHead of Sustainability

Some quick facts about us• Bidvest Foodservice is the trading name of the BFS Group Ltd

• Over 4,000 people work for us

• 850 vehicles are operated out of our 21 depots

• We deliver to over 45,000 customers making almost 60,000 deliveries per week

• We supply over 13,000 products, of which 850 are from our award winning own brand range

• Our range includes raw ingredients to ready-to-finish products, meats, wines, non-food and catering equipment

Some of our customers

Our sustainability journey• Started in 1995

• Established network of volunteers

– Environmental Champions– Now Sustainability Coordinators– We currently have 58 in place– From all parts of the business

• Sustainability engagement activities– National projects– Workshops– Competitions– Formal recognition and rewards

• Community engagement is the key

““Community engagement is not about being Community engagement is not about being nice; it’s fourth pillar of CSR. If nice; it’s fourth pillar of CSR. If sustainability sustainability is about benefitting people in the is about benefitting people in the long-term, long-term, community engagement must play community engagement must play a central a central role”role”

Guardian 14th September 2014

So what have we been doing?So what have we been doing?

Supporting schools…..clearing gardens

Creating bird boxes, bat boxes and bird feeding stations….

Supporting local organisations…..

Supporting Food Banks……

Supporting local bee keepers…..

Supporting scouts …..

Supporting local & national charities

Some quotes from our coordinators

“Embraced it…loved every minute….. fantastic support and buy-in”Sustainability Coordinator, Bury

““Go back 6 years, I was one Go back 6 years, I was one of the people against of the people against environmental practices.. environmental practices.. Now learnt that everyone Now learnt that everyone gains from it..”gains from it..”Sustainability Coordinator, Paddock Wood

“Coordinator since 2003..thing I really enjoy is community engagement… business partner with a local school …one thing we could give was our time..”Sustainability Coordinator, Stowmarket