Vegetable processing specialist FreshFlow Food Solutions, part of the Oakland International group, is celebrating a major milestone after its new Midlands facility secured a coveted BRCGS ‘A’ accreditation at its very first audit.

Managing Director Richard Hall said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our team. Securing an ‘A’ grade straight out of the blocks reflects the dedication and hard work of every colleague involved. It’s a proud moment for all of us.”

The BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standard) is internationally recognised as the benchmark certification for food storage and distribution.

Combining cutting-edge technology with a strong focus on sustainability, FreshFlow Food Solutions has made vegetable processing the core focus of its new site. With a capacity of up to 100 tonnes per week, the facility processes most root vegetables into sliced or diced, chilled or frozen, and in both retail and bulk formats. This highly flexible approach establishes a new benchmark in UK vegetable processing and was initially launched as an initiative to directly support the partnership between Oakland and FareShare, and it now also caters to recipe box providers, restaurants, cafés, convenience outlets.

Richard explained: “We can repack surplus produce into consumer-sized portions and provide rapid turnaround for chilled stock nearing expiration. Partnering with organisations such as FareShare and food bank charities, we’re also helping ensure surplus food is redistributed to those who need it most, while directly tackling food waste. Our aim is always to go beyond the everyday standard, prioritising customised solutions over mass-market strategies.”

Alongside its primary vegetable processing operation, the FreshFlow facility has also been designed to deliver a full spectrum of food packing services:

•              High-risk facility: A purpose-built environment designed for high-risk food packing and processing. Ideal for concept testing, sample production and delivering bespoke solutions.

•              Low-risk lines: Versatile, multi format packing capabilities catering to retail and foodservice customers.

This unique combination of high- and low-risk capability allows FreshFlow to offer tailored solutions across diverse product types while maintaining the highest food safety standards.

With no minimum order requirements and the agility to run bespoke batches, FreshFlow Food Solutions has positioned itself as an ideal partner for both small producers and the broader food service sector. By combining innovation with sustainability, the business enables partners to reduce waste, remain agile in a volatile supply chain, and develop bespoke product ranges quickly and securely.

Richard added: “We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. From vegetable processing at scale to specialist high-care product development, our flexible model means we can deliver tailored solutions for everyone, whether that’s recipe box providers, foodservice operators, or food distribution charities. By combining innovation with purpose, we aim to transform food processing into a sustainable and customer-focused service that benefits businesses and communities alike.”