On Tuesday 26^th November, Greenyard Frozen UK celebrated the arrival of their brand-new eco-friendly trailer dedicated to transporting frozen foods. The team from both Greenyard and DFDS, a global logistical service provider, along with the mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and mayoress of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk waited patiently for the grand reveal. As they watched on, the new vehicle approached the main building with the Greenyard logo proudly displayed on the side of the truck.

This fully branded, purpose-built battery and solar-powered refrigeration trailer unit illustrates Greenyards commitment to green initiatives. While enhancing its transportation capabilities, the company secured this cutting-edge trailer to efficiently transport finished product for its customers and bulk products for processing and packing between Greenyards two UK sites daily.

Local Greenyard Frozen Transport Manager, James Tuttle expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “We are thrilled to witness the trailer in action as it takes over a crucial transport route between our sites. We see this as an important first step in improving our sustainability within transport while reducing our carbon footprint. As a leader in the most sustainable food category (pure-plant, fruit and vegetables), we will continue to invest in decarbonizing our own operations to further lead the transition towards more sustainable food value chains”.

James Ferguson, Regional Operations Manager, DFDS, said: “We’re excited to be able to offer Greenyard Frozen a more sustainable logistics solution through their own dedicated DFDS zero-emission electric TRU. It’s great to collaborate with partners who understand the importance of decarbonising the supply chain and are acting now. Together, we’re focusing on the future of refrigerated transport, one that aligns with our joint environmental goals.”

The UK-based company Sunswap developed, the Endurance, an innovative transport refrigeration units (TRUs) that were successfully trialled by DFDS in 2022. Following the positive results, DFDS placed an order for 10 units, that joined their UK fleet in November 2024. These TRUs use a combination of solar and battery power to maintain the required temperatures for transporting frozen products across the UK. During trials, a single charge of the TRU provided up to 22 hours of cooling over a two-day period on one of DFDS’s longest routes.

The solar panels typically generate 65% to 100% of the power needed to operate the refrigeration unit, significantly reducing dependence on grid charging and lowering costs. The partnership between DFDS and Sunswap has proven that a more sustainable and efficient alternative to diesel TRUs is viable.

Greenyard was one of the 15 winners to take home the King’s Award for Sustainable Development 2023 for their commitment towards healthier lifestyles and working towards more sustainable food chains.

Aldi is spreading festive cheer by donating Christmas lunches to those in low-income areas across the UK.

Through its partnership with Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household goods, the supermarket will provide more than 2,000 free Christmas lunches to its award-winning social enterprise Community Shop.

Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket has partnered with Company Shop Group since 2022 to manage surplus stock from its Regional Distribution Centres. Through this collaboration, surplus items are sold at discounted prices to members throughout the year, making essentials more accessible and reducing waste.

This year, Community Shop members will be invited to a three-course Christmas meal at their local store, hosted on the 17th, 18th, and 19^th of December.

As part of the initiative, British supplier Bernard Matthews, who Aldi has worked with since 2012, will be donating the Christmas turkeys for members to enjoy.

Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “For the past two years, we’ve partnered with Company Shop Group to redistribute surplus stock from our Regional Distribution Centres, making our groceries even more affordable for Community Shop members.

“This is our second year supporting the Christmas lunch and we’re going to be providing even more free festive dinners to those in need. The festive season can be expensive, but this initiative allows members to celebrate without worrying about the associated cost.”

Gary Stott, Executive Chairman at Community Shop, added: “We’re incredibly grateful to Aldi for its continued generosity. Many of our members are feeling the pressures of Christmas, and events like these not only spread festive cheer but also bring communities together during challenging times.”

To find out more about Company Shop Group and Community Shop visit: www.companyshopgroup.co.uk/