Latest News
Latest News
Annual Exhibition
1st March 2024
2024’s exhibition took place on Tuesday 27th February at Sandy Park, Exeter. We’re proud to say this is our busiest and most successful event to date!
“This show really does get better and better every year!”
Mel Wilkinson, Thomas Franks
“One of the busiest and engaging shows I’ve been to in a long while.”
Alex Luker, Belazu
Join us for another busy show next year!
Country Range: Award Winning Products!
17th January 2024
4 of our Country Range, own brand products have won in their category at the Cash and Carry Management Own Brand Awards:
Country Range Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Winner of the Butter, Fats and Spreads Category
Country Range Hummingbird Cake – Winner of the Afternoon Tea Category
Country Range Katsu Curry Sauce – Winner of the Cooking Sauces Category
Country Range Signature Seasoned Waffle Fries – Winner of the Street Food Category
Selected for their quality, consistency and affordability, these top-selling products are well worth a try.
To add these award winning products to your menu click here or speak to your local rep.
Highest Standard of BRC Accreditation Awarded
7th September 2023
We’re delighted that our Oxford depot has retained the highest standard of an AA Grade from our recent BRCGS audit.
This award recognises both service and quality within the foodservice industry, which offers assurance and confidence to our customers.
What does this mean?
- Food safety assurance and credibility of Supplier are two of the most important factors for any Food business. Without these, establishments put their entire business, reputation, and potentially consumer welfare at risk.
- BRGCS is designed as a ‘total quality management’ program which includes both food safety and quality requirements and is thoroughly evaluated against accepted national and international industry standards by a competent third body. These requirements must be met in order to be certified.
- In practice, holding the BRCGS certification demonstrates that Savona Foodservice operate a structured, comprehensive, and effective food safety program, and convey the quality assurance standards customers require.
We’re incredibly proud of the hard work put in each and every day to secure this honour, despite the challenges faced – well done #teamSavona!
Carbon Emissions Reduced by 26%
11th May 2023
The results are in!
We’ve reduced our carbon emissions by 26% since 2019!
Plus…
• Electricity emissions have decreased by 87%
• Vehicle emissions have decreased by 17%
How have we done this? Read our latest Sustainability Statement here.
BRCGS AA GRADE
28th March 2023
We’re excited to announce that our South West depot has been awarded with the highest standard of an AA Grade from our recent BRCGS audit.
This globally recognised standard demonstrates our commitment to service and total quality assurance from “plough to plate”.
We’re incredibly proud of the hard work put in all year round to secure this honour.
Award Win! Best Brand Performance
2nd December 2022
We are delighted to have been awarded winners in the Best Brand Performance category at An Evening With The Country Range Group on 1st December 2022.
The gala dinner, which celebrates suppliers and members, was held at the prestigious St Paul’s Cathedral – a special backdrop for the CRG 30th Anniversary celebration.
First in Europe to Launch 100% Electric Dual-Temperature Vehicles
30th November 2022
Our brand-new pioneering electric vans are now delivering to customers in North Devon and Oxford – these are the first 100% electric dual-temperature vehicles in Europe!
“Much time, effort and investment has gone into getting the spec and design of these vehicles right” says Darren Holloway, Director of Central Operations.
So why have we done this?
Doing our bit to improve climate change is not just a nicety. Having calculated the impact our business is having on the environment; we know that our fleet is the biggest contributor of Co2 emissions.
Compared to diesel vehicles, these vans will save 24,960 tons of carbon per year (based on a range of 120 miles per day, 6 days per week). This is the equivalent to the weight of 2 houses per year, or 1825 bars of gold!
This goes hand in hand with our selection of an energy provider that uses 100% renewable energy, which in itself, has removed 12% of our total carbon emissions.
What does this mean for our customers?
Oxford’s Council aim to move towards a zero-carbon transport system, whilst North Devon is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with the economy seeing 4 million tourists per year, most of whom visit because of the natural environment.
“Protecting our local environment means as much to our customers as it does to us”, comments Kelly Williams, Director. “This is just the beginning of our vehicle replacement program, and we’re proud to be innovators in our industry for the good of the planet”.
Oil Collection Service
18th November 2022
Did you know you can get paid by the litre for your used cooking oil?!
As well as the clear convenient and financial benefits to you (detailed in the image), the environmental advantage is immense.
Arrow Oils collect 200,000 litres per week via their 200-strong biodiesel fleet. Since 2010, this service has saved 336 million grams of carbon from entering the atmosphere, by collecting and converting waste oil into biodiesel at 4 purpose-built recycling plants.
Get in touch today to arrange collection! Call your local rep or email salesadmin@savona.co.uk
A Hard Day's Work Deserves a Fair Day's Pay
1st June 2022
Together, the Living Wage movement has put over £1 billion back into the pockets of low paid workers.
The Real Living Wage is the only rate independently calculated annually, based on the real cost of living.
We look after our staff as they look after our business. It’s as simple as that. So we’re delighted to join the #livingwageuk movement.
Announcing Our Partnership with ClimatePartner
20th May 2022
We are excited to announce we are collaborating with ClimatePartner to measure our corporate carbon footprint across all our locations. This will begin our journey towards becoming net zero and will allow us to understand where our carbon hotspots are, so that we can set an impactful reduction plan.
Climate change is an ever-increasing, urgent issue. Whilst we have already started to make positive change, including the implementation of electric vehicles and eradicating single-use plastics from our range, we are excited to be taking our first steps towards measuring our carbon footprint to further benefit our planet.
Keep up to date with our progress here.
Supporting Working with Disadvantaged People
3rd May 2022
We’re proud to have been awarded the Disability Confident Committed standard, proving our support in the ethos of working with disadvantaged people. This is based on our commitment to:
- Provide inclusive and accessible recruitment
- Communicate vacancies
- Offer an interview to disabled people
- Provide reasonable adjustments
- Support existing employees
Job vacancies can be found here. To find out more about employee rewards and benefits contact gill.parks@savona.co.uk.
Savona's Own Brand, Country Range, Eliminates 57 Tonnes of Non-Recyclable Black Materials Per Year
21st February 2022
The Country Range Group has announced that at the end of 2021, all non-recyclable black packaging material was successfully removed from the production of new Country Range products.
While some products with longer shelf-life will still have the old packaging until stocks run out, it is already estimated that a minimum of 57 tonnes of non-recyclable black packaging materials will be eliminated from the Group’s supply chain each year (based on 2019 figures).
Moya Parrington, Country Range Group Quality & Compliance Manager, said:
“It’s been a huge amount of work and it’s really only the beginning but we’re delighted to have eradicated all non-recyclable black packaging material from the Country Range portfolio. It’s been an extremely rewarding project for everyone associated with the Group and highlights that if we all work together, we can make a real and big difference.”
“We began a process of critically assessing each Country Range product. Instead of just concentrating on one area of sustainability, a full 360°-review of each product was conducted, and every launch was examined to provide us with clear goals. This is only the beginning as we continue to assess, test and develop new solutions to help us improve further, reduce our footprint and also encourage manufacturers, suppliers and brands to follow our lead.”
Martin Ward, Commercial Director, said:
“In line with the Country Range Group’s passion for continual improvement, the Group created the Quality Manager role in 2017, this means every product in the 800-plus Country Range portfolio is systematically and robustly assessed from a sustainable standpoint. This includes evaluating all packaging, production methods, ingredients, sourcing, and supply chains to ensure everything is being done to make each product as green as possible, while guaranteeing the same high-quality product.”
With non-recyclable black packaging materials now disposed of, the Group is also switching products from white cardboard to brown cardboard to further reduce their footprint and improving the recycled content of its plastic packaging.
'Track My Order' Launched - a First in UK Foodservice
1st July 2021
We’re proud to announce the launch of ‘Track My Order’ – a first in UK foodservice!
This is yet another leap forward in providing our customers with an outstanding, frictionless experience through digital innovation.
Customers will be kept up to date on the progress of their order, as they receive notifications at each stage of the process:
- Order acknowledgement
- Assembly
- Despatch
- Delivery confirmation
Watch the video to learn more. Want to find out more? Email help@savona.co.uk.
Effortless convenience for the caterer, re-imagined.
Social Media Marketing for Restaurants
22nd March 2021
With hospitality reactivating and the impending busy period ahead, now is the time to look at your social media marketing efforts and understand just how powerful it can be in putting your business in front of your potential customers.
Social media consumption and engagement is up! People are currently at home awaiting the new normal, so in the countdown to reopening get your business in front of your existing and potential customers.
Understand the basics – why use social media?
Why wouldn’t you?! There are over a billion users daily on Facebook alone – who are sharing, liking and commenting on all types of content. Social media can become very time consuming. Firstly, really get to know your target audience. What platforms they use and what content they like. Rather than spreading your marketing efforts too thinly, pick one or two platforms and do those really well – quality over quantity.
Build trust with your followers
With people returning to eating and drinking out, they want to be assured that you are committed to safety, cleanliness and also how conscience you are from a sustainability and eco-friendly perspective. This is the perfect time to highlight the hygiene, health and safety protocols you have in place. Whether you’re ordering produce from local suppliers or wholesalers, using eco-friendly packaging for your take-aways, or you have removed single use plastic from your business, then shout about it! It’s something you should be proud of.
User Generated Content provides social proof
Think about how, as customers start to return to your establishment, they can become your advocates and in turn drive even greater footfall. Encourage your customers to share their experience. Clearly promote your social media channels, use related #’s and ask your customers to post, share or tag you in their photos and overall experience. Competitions are also a great way to encourage your followers to share your business across their social platforms, and in turn put your business in front of a new audience. It’s a win, win!
#SocialMediaMarketing #Savona #Foodservice #Hospitality #Restuarant #DigitalMarketing
Product Shelf Life Extension
11th February 2021
With the ever-changing demand, we have been working hard to manage our stock to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Part of this has been to work with our suppliers to gain shelf life extensions on products. Click to read our communication outlining the steps we have taken to extend the shelf life on a number of products: Product Shelf Life Extension
