Oakland International, a trusted logistics operator in Ireland since 2009, has expanded its capabilities under the Oakland International Freight division, strengthening its position in the Irish cold chain and wider supply chain sector while offering businesses across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and global markets a seamless, fully integrated freight solution.

Building on more than a decade of established operations in Ireland and a well‑developed UK network, the company provides customers with a dependable partner for international transport at a time when demand for resilient, compliant, and temperature‑controlled logistics continues to rise.

International Freight Director Enda Maher commented: “Since 2009, Oakland International has been committed to supporting Irish industry, and the growth of our International Freight division marks the next exciting step in that journey. We’re matching our local expertise with global reach, helping customers move goods more efficiently, more confidently, and with a service experience that stands out in the market.”

Oakland International Freight coordinates complex logistics movements across road and sea both to Europe and Rest of World with a focus on efficiency, clarity, and consistency. The division supports full and part‑load road transport throughout Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe, and manages temperature‑controlled, ambient, and specialised oversized consignments for food producers, retailers, and pharma clients. Its capabilities extend into European container solutions, deep sea shipping to major global ports, access to temperature‑controlled and standard warehousing across Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, and other key European locations.

As regulatory requirements evolve, Oakland International Freight provides expert customs and compliance support for imports, exports, transit, and associated procedures, including GVMS, GMR, EXS, and ENS, ensuring clients benefit from efficient processing and complete confidence in accurate, reliable documentation and border management.

“A lot of the challenges businesses face when moving goods in and out of Ireland come down to complexity and visibility,” added Enda. “Our job is to remove both. By combining our Irish operation with the strength of the Oakland International Freight network, we’re delivering a seamless, transparent freight solution customers can rely on every day.”

With continued investment in infrastructure, people, and strategic partnerships, Oakland International Freight reinforces the group’s reputation as a trusted and customer‑focused logistics provider. Its expanded service offering supports the growing need for dependable cold chain flows between Ireland, the UK, and Europe, particularly for time‑sensitive food and pharmaceutical products. For businesses seeking an experienced partner capable of delivering a seamless freight journey from Ireland to global markets, Oakland International Freight offers reliability without compromise.

About Oakland International:

A Certified B Corporation and BRCGS AA+ accreditations, Oakland International is a specialist in multi‑temperature supply‑chain solutions, providing services including storage, distribution, contract packing, consolidation and direct‑to‑consumer delivery. The business is also recognised for its award‑winning distress load management service, leading the market in reducing food waste across the supply chain.

Sysco GB, the UK’s leading foodservice provider, has signed a new deal with Shell Energy Europe Limited to harness 20 Gigawatt hours of wind power a year until 2035 as it delivers on its commitment to use only renewable energy by 2030.

The new agreement will see the company secure the equivalent of around a third of Sysco GB’s expected energy use by 2030. The electricity is generated by the Race Bank offshore wind farm off the North Norfolk coast with which Shell Energy Europe has an offtake agreement.

Sysco GB has driven the move to renewable energy by installing solar panels on the roofs of six of its depots across the country and making significant improvements in energy efficiency, reducing usage and piloting electric and alternative fuel vehicles. All contributing to Sysco’s global strategy to secure the future of food, by transforming how we operate.

The new deal will see a step change in renewables in foodservice, with Sysco GB purchasing renewable electricity which would power the equivalent of more than 7,400 homes every year.

Paul Nieduszynski, Chief Executive of Sysco GB, said: “We are determined to lead the transformation to a more sustainable future, including transitioning 100% of our electricity demand to renewables by 2030. We’re already making progress in converting the rooftops of our depots to generate renewable electricity, and this deal is a significant step towards our target.

“Customers are clear that sustainability is at the forefront of their agenda. By cutting the footprint of our own operations, we are supporting our customers to reduce theirs too. We will continue to lead the industry on sustainability – to play our part in securing the future of food.”

Pete Statham, Head of EU Sustainability for Sysco said “As we continue to grow in Great Britain, we’re committing to renewables to strengthen our business, improve resilience and help our customers meet their own sustainability goals. By scaling onsite generation and long term clean power, we’ll reduce emissions at pace, while improving the service our customers count on. This is a significant agreement within the UK foodservice market. And it is central to how we build a more sustainable, lower carbon future for foodservice, playing our part in securing the future of food.”

Sysco was tHe first wholesaler to set science-based targets to cut scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 27.5% by 2030, and to secure 100% renewable electricity globally. Sysco’s FY25 Global Sustainability Report, launched this month, highlights significant progress with a 15% reduction since 2019. It outlines how Sysco is building a resilient and inclusive future – from farm to fork – to reduce risk, control cost and meet customer expectations.

Oakland International, through its development arm Green Clover Developments, has joined forces with Cannington Enterprises to deliver a groundbreaking renewable energy facility that will underpin next-generation vertical farming, mushroom cultivation, and sustainable food manufacturing.

Under the agreement, Cannington Enterprises will design, build, and operate a cutting-edge anaerobic digestion (AD) plant that transforms food waste, sourced via Oakland International, into renewable green energy, heat, and valuable by-products. Green Clover Developments will provide approximately four acres of land on a long-term lease, creating a hub where energy, logistics, and supply chain operations converge to support advanced agricultural systems.

Cannington Enterprises brings 15 years expertise in renewable energy generation and waste-to-energy solutions, with a proven track record in designing and managing AD plants that convert food waste into clean energy and practical outputs from its existing facility located near Bridgwater. Being one of the early adopters of AD technology in the country.

Their collaboration underscores Oakland’s commitment to a low-carbon, circular food production model. By generating renewable energy on-site, the partnership will enable climate-controlled mushroom growing and vertical farming, while also offering potential energy support for local homes, helping build a more resilient, partially off-grid community.

Lee Whiting, Managing Director of Green Clover Developments, said: “Our partnership with Cannington Enterprise is a key milestone in shaping a sustainable production environment. Vertical farming and mushroom production require stable, efficient and low-carbon energy, and generating that energy on-site from food waste is exactly the type of circular solution the industry needs. We’re delighted to be working alongside a specialist partner who understands both the technical and operational demands.”

The AD facility will process food waste from Oakland’s networks and partner supply chains, producing renewable electricity and heat to power vertical farms, climate-controlled systems, and potentially local housing. By-products such as digestate and CO₂ may also be repurposed to support agricultural activities and local growing systems.

Cannington Enterprises Director of Operations and Commercial Alan Armstead commented: “We are pleased to confirm our strategic partnership with Oakland International and Green Clover Developments. This initiative exemplifies how renewable energy can be seamlessly integrated into advanced growing systems, reinforcing sustainability and enhancing commercial resilience. Our objective is to deliver a streamlined, robust solution that delivers optimal performance from the outset and for generations to come.”

Cannington Enterprises Managing Director Tim Roe added: “We have commenced work on the engineering design, plant layout, and infrastructure integration. This project represents a highly innovative opportunity, with the capability to directly support vertical farming, mushroom cultivation, and, potentially, local homes through site-generated renewable gas and electricity.”

The partnership is now moving toward a full commercial joint venture agreement following feasibility studies, permitting, and detailed design. Specialist consultants have been appointed to lead environmental permitting, site surveys, and gas/energy connection strategies, with preparatory works already underway.

Oakland International, a Certified B Corporation, is a market leader in reducing food waste through its acclaimed distress load management service. As a multi-temperature supply chain specialist, Oakland delivers comprehensive solutions including storage, distribution, contract packing, consolidation, and direct-to-consumer services across the UK and Ireland. Through Green Clover Developments, Oakland International is driving integrated initiatives that advance sustainable agriculture, vertical farming, and low-carbon food production.

In frozen-food operations, product damage is one of the most common causes of waste.  UK supply chains reportedly lose around 12-13% of perishable stock every year due to operational issues – including handling and storage inefficiencies – equating to hundreds of tonnes of wasted goods per business and significant financial cost.

Toppled pallets, crushed boxes, and/or punctured drums not only reduce stock levels but can also compromise food safety, customer satisfaction, and reputation.  Using the right forklift attachments and using them correctly plays a crucial role in protecting products, reducing waste, and keeping operations running efficiently.

Key considerations for reducing waste include:

1. Attachment / Load Pairing
   Different products require different handling solutions. Fork extensions, pallet clamps, drum handlers, and box grabs are designed for specific load types. Using the correct attachment prevents tipping, crushing, or over-compression, keeping items intact throughout their journey from storage to dispatch
2. Fitting and adjustment
   Attachments must be correctly mounted and adjusted for each load. Even the smallest misalignment can cause uneven lifting or unstable handling, which increases the risk of damage. Adjustable forks help operators position loads correctly for different pallet sizes and types of packaging.
3. Careful handling
   Cold-store conditions can encourage operators to work quickly to meet deadlines, but it’s important to balance speed with careful, controlled handling. Using attachments like tilting forks or spreaders allows smooth, controlled movement of heavy or fragile loads, reducing shocks or sudden impacts that can damage products.
4. Maintenance
   Worn forks, stiff hydraulics, or poorly lubricated joints increase the chance of goods being mishandled. Regular inspections, lubrication with cold-weather greases, and timely replacement of worn components are essential for consistent, safe operation.
5. Operator training
   No attachment, no matter how well designed, can prevent waste if operators aren’t confident in using it correctly. Contact Attachments offers on-site training covering:

• Correct attachment fitting and load handling
• Understanding how attachments affect forklift stability and load limits
• Techniques for delicate or irregular loads

Training is hands-on, typically 90 minutes, with a maximum of three trainees per session, ensuring operators gain practical skills that directly reduce product loss.

With over 50 years’ experience in designing forklift attachments for the food & drink industry, Contact Attachments supports frozen-food operations with bespoke solutions that are hygiene-safe, cold-store compatible and ergonomically smart.  They’re proud to work alongside BFFF members in helping make the chain of frozen-food logistics safer, cleaner and more efficient.

If you’d like to discuss how the right attachment can reduce manual handling in your chilled or frozen operations – or to conduct a review of your site – please contact the team on 01686 611200 or via their website at www.forklift-attachments.co.uk

The GCA’s 2026 annual supplier survey is now live. It will remain open until Sunday 22 February, and we encourage as many suppliers as possible to complete it: https://start.yougov.com/refer/v2hzX1srKpYfq7

The survey is carried out by independent polling company YouGov, on behalf of the GCA, and responses will be treated confidentially.

The findings will help to understand how each of the designated retailers has treated suppliers over the past year and inform the work of the GCA. We will use the results to hold the retailers to account for any issues or concerning behaviour and work with them to drive any necessary improvements.

Next steps

The GCA will publish the results in spring 2026.

YouGov will also conduct anonymous follow-up interviews with a select group of suppliers to explore their experiences supplying the designated retailers in more detail. If you would like to participate, please provide your consent and contact details at the end of the survey.

Raising issues

Each designated retailer has a Code Compliance Officer (CCO) who operates independently from the buying teams. CCOs are available to discuss any matters relating to their organisation’s obligations under the Groceries Code. Suppliers can confidentially raise issues with CCOs, and CCOs will only share a supplier’s issue with others in their business with the supplier’s express permission.

All designated retailers have committed to ensuring that suppliers who raise an issue, whether with the CCO, a buyer, or anyone else in the organisation, will not face any retribution for doing so.

We are committed to ensuring that suppliers feel confident raising issues and actively monitor the designated retailers’ adherence to their commitments.

You can also contact the GCA confidentially via email or by using my anonymous reporting platform, Tell the GCA. We have a legal obligation to protect your confidentiality, and  will never without express permission share any information with a designated retailer that could identify a supplier.