A partnership built on shared business ethics with Yeo Valley

Yeo Valley’s requirements

With four production sites and their national distribution centre, all based within the Westcountry, initially Yeo Valley required vehicles to transport raw materials into the production sites and finished goods into storage facilities ready to be distributed to the shops. In 2022, the requirements expanded to include warehousing, following a review of their existing storage facilities.

Critical to the delivery of their storage and distribution requirements was cultural fit. Yeo Valley strongly believe in putting people and our planet first and it is important to them to work with a logistics partner that shares the same ethics.

Just like Yeo Valley, Gregory Group has grown from a small family-run business to one that is recognised nationally. We have grown thanks to the decisions and values of those before us and firmly believe what they have instilled is vital to our continued success. This heritage and continued investment in our people and planet strongly resonates with Yeo Valley, as Michael Watchman, Yeo Valley’s Head of Logistics, explains:

Both our businesses are family owned. You share the same drive for sustainable growth and reducing the impact on our planet. This, combined with the fact that people are central to what you do, makes us a very good business fit.

Putting people first

At Gregory Group we know that it is our people that make us successful. Our team connect with our customers and work in partnership to deliver an exceptional service. Michael puts this into perspective for us:

We problem solve together in a way that helps our customers and consumers. If an issue occurs, we work together to rectify it first and foremost and then do a thorough root cause analysis to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Your people are an extension to our team. This type of partnership is really key for me.

This partnership approach was well and truly demonstrated when we had to move our raw materials and packaging supplies from our Axbridge site. Gregory Group stepped in and found a great solution right on the doorstep of our distribution centre.

And when we had to TUPE people across, you engaged with everyone and were open and honest, making them feel part of the team from the start. The whole project was seamless. In fact, it’s probably one of the best relocation projects I’ve seen. We were still operating during the weekend of the move and you didn’t miss a beat. That professionalism and attention to detail, and the fact our people were at the forefront of decisions, was excellent.

The added bonus of the TUPE was that, thanks to the scale of Gregory Group, our people have had access to more opportunities. For example, your “Warehouse to Wheels” scheme - in which those working in the warehouse can become drivers. This isn’t something we can offer at Yeo Valley because we don’t own any vehicles. A number of the team have progressed their career since moving across to Gregory Group and it’s brilliant to see.

Putting our planet first

Sustainability is another shared value that both Yeo Valley and Gregory Group firmly believe in. For ourselves, we plan to be net zero by 2038. For Yeo Valley, in addition to operating a regenerative, organic farm, they are also very focused on reducing food waste, powering their sites with renewable energy, reducing food miles and using sustainable packaging. These joint goals are extremely important to Yeo Valley:

Every project we look at considers the environmental impact. Two years ago, our Gregory Group fleet switched fuels, from Diesel to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). This was a huge step forward for us which saves around 800 tonnes of carbon a year. We welcome being part of pilots that trial innovation and reduce emissions, and Gregory Group are at the forefront of this. One of the reasons our partnership is so strong is because sustainability is one of Gregory Group’s core pillars.

A partnership that works

We asked Michael to summarise our partnership. This is what he said:

During my four years here, my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. I have never had to mention the contract. If I did, that would be a transactional relationship. With Gregory Group, we always discuss opportunities and come to a beneficial agreement that meets everyone’s needs. That is a relationship that is a real partnership. I would highly recommend Gregory Group for all warehousing and transport work.