Bakery manufacturer Wrights has invested £1.3m in a fleet of environmentally-friendly vehicles.
The new fleet, which will help distribute Wrights’ range of sweet and savoury baked goods across the UK, comprises eight vehicles fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG). They should bring a 95% saving in carbon emissions, according to the firm.
Heavy duty tractor units which tow trailered loads, typically transporting frozen goods, form part of the fleet. Rigid vehicles and shop vehicles have also been purchased to transport items baked in Wrights’ £30m manufacturing facility in Crewe to local shops and businesses across the North West.
Wrights was acquired by The Compleat Food Group, formed by a merging of Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Derby, in December 2021. It supplies baked goods, including pies, quiches, sandwiches, doughnuts, and cookies, to the hospitality and retail sectors from its three manufacturing sites.
“We are working hard to get ahead of the government-set target of reducing carbon emissions by 2030,” said the group’s Crewe-based health, safety and environmental compliance manager Paul Strangwood.
“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.”
Strangwood noted that while reduced emissions was integral to the group’s investment, it wasn’t the only benefit. Onboard fridges and freezers are generator driven from the vehicles’ engines, reducing the environmental impact even further. New vehicles are also fully equipped with additional home comforts, including larger bunks, upgraded cabin seats and more cupboard space to support 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,” he continued.
Compleat Food Group’s head of environmental social and governance David Moore added that decarbonising the fleet was an important step on its journey to Net Zero. “Moving from diesel to CNG from is a crucial step for us and to having made this investment we are showing our commitment to achieving our Net Zero targets,” Moore said.
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