Food and Drink
Manufacturing
From processing and packaging to refrigeration and logistics, energy is at the heart of food and drink operations. Rising prices, supply chain pressures, and ambitious Net Zero targets mean leaders must balance cost control with sustainability and compliance.
At Businesswise Solutions, we understand these challenges. We help food and drink manufacturers cut costs, improve efficiency, and progress towards Net Zero without compromising product quality or reliability of supply.
Insight Report – The Impact of ESG on the UK Food & Drink Sector
2021 Insight from the industry in partnership with the Food & Drink Federation.
UK’s largest manufacturing sector
Food and drink production pumps £29 billion into the economy and provides jobs for more than 440,000 people across the country.
Intelligent energy procurement and bureau services
Energy costs are one of the biggest operational risks for food and drink manufacturers, with refrigeration, processing, and 24/7 production all driving high consumption. Market volatility makes cost predictability essential for protecting margins.
Our energy procurement strategies are tailored to the sector’s unique needs, ensuring competitive pricing, long-term stability, and flexibility where required. Our bureau services then provide ongoing management – validating invoices, monitoring usage, and ensuring no savings opportunities are missed.
We recovered over £500,000 for one malt manufacturer and implemented measures to ensure accurate billing in the future. Having proactive management not only safeguards their energy costs but also provides long-term peace of mind.
Bespoke energy management
Food and drink manufacturing is energy-intensive at every stage, from milling, baking, and brewing to chilling, freezing, and packaging. Small inefficiencies can quickly add up to significant costs and emissions.
Our Energy Management as a Service (EMaaS) provides real-time monitoring and analysis, helping manufacturers identify hidden inefficiencies and cut waste without impacting production schedules. By tracking equipment performance, reviewing demand peaks, and highlighting process-level issues, we unlock savings that strengthen margins and reduce carbon emissions.
Over a three-year period, EMaaS has saved a particular food manufacturer more than £150,000. These efforts reduced energy consumption by over 1,000,000 kWh and eliminated 250 tonnes of CO2, bringing the company closer to its net zero targets.
Supporting food and drink manufacturers with energy and carbon compliance
The food and drink sector faces increasing regulatory demands around carbon reporting, energy efficiency, and emissions reductions. Compliance is no longer just a legal requirement, it’s an opportunity to unlock financial reliefs, protect profitability, and demonstrate sustainability leadership to customers and retailers.
Our compliance team ensures all reporting is accurate, timely, and fully audit-ready under frameworks and industry-specific schemes. By combining technical expertise with deep industry knowledge, we help manufacturers secure tax reliefs, manage exemptions, and avoid costly penalties.
Our compliance team are experts in:
- SECR
- CCA / CCL
- ESOS
- ESG policy
- Energy Intensive Relief
Through EMaaS a fresh food producer has already reduced forecasted electricity costs by 9% annually, eliminating 254,417 kgCO2e each year, and is on track to achieve a further 7% reduction with projects identified through EMaaS. With these results, the client is on the right path towards their sustainability goals.