Thomas Ridley successfully diverts 99% of waste from landfill


With a continued focus on waste and recycling, Thomas Ridley Foodservice, a wholesaler to the foodservice industry, reveals its achievement of diverting 99% of waste from landfill as part of its ongoing commitment to positive environmental action for its own operations and supporting customers to do the same.

It’s no secret that companies produce waste, but it’s what Thomas Ridley do with it that sets the company apart. Following many months of hard work, achieving a key goal, to divert 99% waste from landfill is a major success for the Suffolk based wholesaler.

Ongoing work as part of a commitment to environmental action also includes fitting the warehouse with 400 solar panels to reduce the amount of power required, saving 21 tonnes of CO2 emissions so far.

In 2021 alone, Thomas Ridley recycled over 150 tonnes of cardboard, and 24 tonnes of plastic, including their own, and their customer’s waste.

Supporting customers to meet their environmental goals is important and thanks to a partnership with Arrow Oils, 300,000 litres of cooking oil were repurposed into biodiesel, with over 400 customers participating in this particular scheme.

Paul Knight, Commercial Director, is delighted with these achievements, “As a company, we have set ourselves a plan of action to reduce our impact on the environment.

'As part of this overall plan, we aim to help our customers in their environmental action as well, and we take back used cooking oil as well as packaging and dispose/ recycle these items.

'It’s important to us that we offer additional services to our customers and as well as assisting with oil and recycling, we also offer features such as Allergen Check, a tool that identifies allergens in items ordered and helps customers to navigate food information regulations.

'In addition, we believe we have the easiest online ordering you will find; it sounds simple but it really is important that our customers can order with speed and ease.”

Thomas Ridley Foodservice offers national, multi-temperature distribution and thousands of products online. Located just outside of Bury St Edmunds, the firm provides a total food service solution delivering a comprehensive range of chilled, ambient, frozen, professional hygiene and catering sundries.

It provides a foodservice solution for Independents, Groups, Regional and National Contracts including social clubs, pubs, restaurants, hotels, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, colleges, leisure facilities, county councils, local authorities, garden centres and contract caterers.