Natures Way Foods, a fresh food producer which counts Tesco, McDonalds, Aldi, Zizzi and Sainsburys among its clients, says a drive to grow in an environmentally-friendly way has led to it signing a distribution deal with IPP.

The firm, which supplies retailers and food service companies with prepared salads, prepared fruit and fresh ‘food to go’ products, has partnered with IPP in an agreement which will see 400,000 Euro and standard UK pallets moved per year.

Based on four sites in West Sussex, Natures Way said the motivation behind the switch to Meriden-based IPP was the offer of a simple, flexible service, as well as a commitment to reducing environmental impact.

Natures Way has a variety of systems in place to reduce waste, including plastic recycling and incinerating non-recyclable waste to produce electricity, and has a zero waste to landfill policy in place.

Paul Harmer, head of sales for IPP, said: “Natures Way like our ethos and culture, enjoy working with our people and appreciate our supportive attitude to helping streamline their supply chain.

“They were frustrated with the inflexibility of their previous suppliers, who had not been providing the kind of service they expect. We know it’s important to Natures Way to receive the best possible service with a company which focuses on its environmental impact, ensuring suppliers’ businesses are using sustainable materials and methods, so we were a natural fit.”

Phil Henshall, transport manager at Natures Way, said: “We’ve found the switch to IPP to be calculated and seamless, with no impact on our operations.  The communication is brilliant and we receive a really personal service. Clear plans were put in place for the implementation with achievable timelines and realistic targets. Everyone knew their place in the process and the switch launched exactly as anticipated.

“We are looking to grow our business with IPP with as many pallet movements as possible throughout the supply chain. It’s a partnership we think will work very well.”

IPP has a long-standing commitment to the circular economy and is the only pallet pooler to be able to manufacture its own products, as well as retrieving, repairing and repatriating pallets.

Phil Storer, UK director of IPP, said: “Like ourselves, Natures Way has a clear plan in place to minimise its environmental impact and backs up its pledges with clear action.

“The products it makes are enjoyed by millions of people across the UK every week, so it’s imperative it receives an efficient, quality service it can rely on. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”

For more information on Nature’s Way Foods, visit www.natureswayfoods.com.