Multi-temperature supply chain specialist Oakland International is demonstrating how sustainability can be embedded into everyday operations through a workplace garden that supplies fresh produce to its employee canteen, supports biodiversity and promotes wellbeing across its Redditch headquarters.
What was once a neglected and overgrown space at Oakland International’s Redditch headquarters has been transformed into a productive garden packed with fruit, vegetables, herbs and pollinator-friendly planting. The initiative was spearheaded by Emily Attwell, daughter of the company’s co-founders Sallie and Dean Attwell, and Catriona McDonald, partner of their son Ben, whose shared passion for sustainability and food growing inspired them to restore the area. The transformed space now supplies fresh produce for the company’s canteen, creating a practical example of sustainable food production within the workplace.
Their efforts are already bearing fruit, with the garden producing multiple harvests that have gone directly into meals prepared for employees.
“We wanted to bring the garden back to life so that it could be enjoyed by Oakland employees, visitors and potentially school groups in the future,” explained Emily.
“As the garden develops, we’d love to see even more colleagues getting involved and discovering how easy and rewarding it can be to grow your own food.”
The garden produces a range of crops including courgettes, grapes, tomatoes, sage, rhubarb, lettuce, peppers, strawberries, raspberries, cucumbers and pumpkins.
Despite challenging periods of hot weather, the team has remained committed to maintaining the site, regularly watering and harvesting crops using collected rainwater. Sustainability principles underpin the project, with harvested rainwater used for irrigation, biodegradable cardboard repurposed to create pathways and manure sourced from a neighbouring farm used as a natural fertiliser. The initiative also supports Oakland International’s wider environmental strategy and commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2040.
Located adjacent to the employee canteen, the garden enables a true ‘plot-to-plate’ approach, with freshly harvested produce incorporated into meals within hours of picking. This complements Oakland’s wider focus on reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and supporting sustainable food systems.
To date, the garden has delivered three harvests, with produce regularly supplied to the canteen. Oakland International Head of Food Development Tom Prescott has incorporated garden-grown courgettes, onions, peppers and herbs into roasted vegetable dishes and salads. Employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with staff describing the produce as “very tasty”.
Beyond food production, the Oakland Garden is enhancing biodiversity across the site by attracting pollinators and creating valuable habitats for bees and other insects.
As the project continues to evolve, Oakland International plans to further develop the space into a wellbeing resource for employees, including additional seating areas where colleagues can relax and spend time outdoors during breaks.
Looking ahead, Oakland International is exploring ways to involve more employees through its emerging Green Board initiative, which will help shape future sustainability projects and opportunities for engagement. The company also hopes the garden can play a role in community education by welcoming school groups and providing hands-on opportunities for children to learn about food growing, sustainability and nature. Emily added: “If you have the space, plant some vegetables. Courgettes are incredibly easy to grow, and there’s something really rewarding about harvesting food you’ve grown yourself. It can be simple, affordable and fun.”
With science-based net zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Oakland International continues to demonstrate its commitment to measurable climate action, embedding sustainability, responsible governance and social value across every aspect of its operations. Delivering multi-temperature supply chain services across the UK and Ireland, Oakland International is recognised for helping businesses protect product integrity, reduce food waste and recover value through its award-winning Distress Load Management service.
Through initiatives such as the Oakland Garden, Oakland International continues to demonstrate how businesses across the food and grocery supply chain can embed sustainability into day-to-day operations, delivering tangible benefits for employees, communities and the environment while supporting broader net zero ambitions.
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