Today’s consumer is more focused on where and how their food is produced than ever before. The proof is in the numbers:
- 83%1 of consumers think companies should be actively shaping ESG best practices
- 91%1 of business leaders believe their company has a responsibility to act on ESG issues
- 86%1 of employees prefer to support or work for companies that care about the same issues they do
When your business does more good for the world, customers recognize it. It starts with your technical production processes,the ways you prioritize sustainability, and the methods you employ to remain transparent and honest about the food you make. At Chaucer Foods, those efforts are top-of-mind every day and in every one of our facilities.
We spoke with Dale Williams, Technical Manager, Chaucer Foods UK, for more on how the global brand is building deeper connections with customers and consumers by focusing on the things they care about — and building it into what they produce.
A:It’s a top-to-bottom process and it runs the full length of our supply chain. We developed a robust supply plan and we connect directly with growers from around the world to ensure that workers maintain Chaucer Foods’ sustainable practices.
Sustainability isn’t just about the end product being produced; it’s about everything that happens to the ingredients. It can be difficult to make sure that what we offer comes from sustainable companies, but it benefits the end result. The types and volume of ingredients need to be sourced responsibly and companies can ensure that happens by developing common-sense, understanding standards and then making sure those standards are adhered to..
Q: How does Chaucer Foods address supply chain transparency issues?
A:The most important thing is making sure there is end-to-end visibility. That way we can trace the ingredients all the way through the supply chain — from their source right up to when a consumer makes a purchase. This does decrease where and how we can purchase raw materials — not all locations around the world abide by the standards we’ve set — but by making it a focus of how we do business, I think it offers the customer an added layer of trust. We even go so far as to promote the ways we source and the standards we hold our partners, and ourselves, to on our website for everyone to see. When you do business with Chaucer Foods, you are a part of a business supply chain dedicated to doing things the right way.
Food producers should look to improve internal processes so they
can do more with less. This includes the energy you use and the
materials you buy. We’ve started to employ enhanced lean
manufacturing processes in our U.K. facilities and that’s been an effort we’re rolling out in the U.S. and other sites around the world.
1“Beyond compliance: Consumers and employees want business to do more on ESG,” PWC. 2021.