The ethical wholesale grocery firm behind a new foodhall and kitchen being built at Saltford have given more details of how they plan to make it a beacon of sustainability.
Given the name of Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen at Glenavon Farm this week, Cotswold Fayre’s development will sell quality products sourced from local producers, with any food waste collected by the Too Good to Go company to distribute to local people in need.
It said the foodhall would be as plastic free as possible on launch while there will also be electric car charging points for customers.
Reading-based Cotswold Fayre, which in 2019 became the first wholesaler to gain carbon-neutral status, is transforming the former derelict farm buildings into its first foodhall and kitchen.
Construction work started last May and Cotswold Fayre plans to open the outlet this spring.
The company was launched in 1999 as a distribution hub for a few small artisan food and drink producers in the Cotswolds to supply delis and farm shops.
Today is has more than 3,000 products, 1,750 customers and 30 employees.
Four years ago it became one of the first companies in the UK to achieve certification by B Corp, recognising it as a for-profit companies that meets the most rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.
It says its new venture will be environmentally and socially responsible as possible, in line with the company’s B Corp values.
Cotswold Fayre CEO Paul Hargreaves said: “We feel that the name Flourish perfectly encapsulates our aims for the new business.
“We are passionate about food and the positive impact it can have, for our customers that enjoy it, partners that produce it, the people we work with and the community in which we are a part.”
Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen managing director Paul Castle added: “We have lots of exciting plans to make Flourish a healthy contributor to the local community, our team and the planet.
“We want to make all our customers feel great when visiting Flourish and leave with a smile on their face.
“Working with local farmer Adam Stratton, the construction programme is well underway and we anticipate opening our doors in spring 2021.”
Paul has joined Cotswold Fayre from the award-winning Farringtons farm shop at Farrington Gurney, where he was business manager for more than 10 years. He started his career in food retailing by helping his parents in their Spar minimarket at the age of 12, joining Kingfisher Group in his early 20s. In 1998, Paul returned to food retail with ASDA, where he carried out a number of roles from store manager to regional director.
