Riverford

Riverford Organic Farmers is a pioneering and leading organic farm and organic vegetable box delivery company based in Devon, England, with a nationwide reach across the UK. Founded by Guy Singh-Watson in 1987, it has grown from a small operation delivering 30 veg boxes a week to a major player in the organic food market, delivering approximately 75,000 organic boxes weekly. Notably, Riverford became 100% employee-owned in 2023, reflecting its deep commitment to ethical business practices and shared values.

Riverford Organic Farmers: Growing a Better Future for People and Planet

Riverford was born out of Guy Singh-Watson's belief in organic farming and a desire to connect people directly with the source of their food. From its origins as a single organic farm in Devon, it has expanded to include sister farms in other locations across the UK, ensuring fresh, seasonal produce is delivered directly to customers' doors.

Mission and Vision: Good Food, Good Farming, Good Business

Riverford's mission is clearly articulated: "To Grow a Better Future for People and Planet with Good Food, Good Farming, and Good Business."

Their vision encompasses a holistic approach to sustainability, emphasizing:

• High-quality organic produce: Prioritizing flavour and freshness over appearance, and adhering to rigorous organic standards.
• Sustainable farming practices: Protecting soil health, encouraging biodiversity, and minimizing environmental impact.
• Ethical business operations: Ensuring fair treatment for employees, suppliers, and customers, and promoting transparency.

Riverford is now 100% employee-owned. So what's next for founder Guy Singh-Watson?

Core Philosophy: Organic, Ethical, and Employee-Owned

Riverford's success is built on a strong set of interconnected principles:

• Organic Purity: Everything they grow, make, and sell (with the exception of wild fish) is 100% organic. This commitment means no artificial pesticides or fertilisers, exceptional animal welfare standards (going beyond free-range), no genetically modified ingredients, and no routine use of antibiotics. They believe organic farming is better for human health, wildlife, and the planet.
• Direct-to-Consumer Model: The pioneering veg box scheme allows them to deliver fresh produce directly from the farm to the customer, cutting out intermediaries and reducing food miles.
• Employee Ownership: Guy Singh-Watson gradually transitioned ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust, completing the process to 100% employee ownership in 2023. This ensures that the company's values, independence, and long-term vision are protected, and that employees ("co-owners") have a direct stake in the business's success and a voice in its direction. This also means a portion of annual profits is shared equally among employees.
• B Corp Certification: In 2020, Riverford became a certified B Corp, an accreditation recognizing businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
• Fairness and Transparency: They aim for fairness in pay (being a Real Living Wage employer), transparency in their operations, and building long-term, trusting relationships with suppliers, staff, and customers.

Key Product Offerings and Services:

Riverford Organic Farm offers a diverse range of organic products delivered directly to customers' homes across the UK:

1. Organic Veg Boxes: Their iconic offering, available in various sizes (small, medium, large) and types (e.g., Seasonal, Quick, Familiar Favourites, Zero Packaging, 100% UK organic). Boxes contain fresh, seasonal vegetables chosen for flavour.
2. Fruit & Veg Boxes / Fruit & Snacking Boxes: Combinations of organic fruits and vegetables.
3. Organic Meat Boxes: Sourced from their own butchery or carefully selected local family farmers who prioritize animal welfare.
4. Recipe Boxes & Meal Kits: Providing pre-measured organic ingredients and recipes for convenient cooking.
5. Dairy Products: Offering a range of organic milk, yogurts, creams, soft cheeses, and butter from their own Riverford Organic Dairy, known for traditional methods and high animal welfare.
6. Store Cupboard Staples: A selection of organic grocery items, including drinks and wine.
7. Flexible Delivery: Customers can set up regular orders (weekly, fortnightly, etc.) or place one-off orders.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact:

Riverford is deeply committed to sustainability and transparency about its environmental footprint:

• Carbon Footprint Reduction: They aim for less than 3kg CO2e per delivery and have significantly reduced their carbon intensity (emissions per delivery) since 2017/18 through:
  • Optimized delivery routes.
  • Increasing the proportion of UK-sourced fruit and veg.
  • Electrifying their van fleet (aiming for 100% electric delivery vans by 2025).
  • Investing in renewable energy (e.g., solar panels).
  • Upgrading refrigeration systems.
• Thoughtful Packaging: They use innovative solutions to minimize plastic. Their veg boxes contain significantly less plastic than supermarket equivalents. They repair and reuse their cardboard veg boxes up to 10 times, aiming for more returns from customers to maximize this. They have also replaced plastic tape with paper tape and plastic stretch wrap with reusable buckle systems.
• Biodiversity Action Plans: They implement Biodiversity Action Plans on their farms (like Wash Farm in Devon and Sacrewell Farm in Cambridgeshire) to encourage nature-friendly farming, create new habitats, and connect existing ones for wildlife. This includes extensive tree and hedgerow planting and pond creation.
• Food Waste Reduction: Through efficient systems and partnerships (e.g., with Food in Community and FareShare South West), they work to prevent organic food from going to waste.
• Agroforestry: Investing in agroforestry systems (planting trees within agricultural land) to sequester carbon, protect soil, and promote perennial crops.

Community and Social Impact:

Beyond environmental sustainability, Riverford is deeply committed to social responsibility:

• Employee Well-being: As an employee-owned company, they prioritize fair pay, learning and development opportunities, proactive well-being support (mental health first aiders, free counselling), and fostering an inclusive culture where co-owners feel proud and valued.
• Charity Partnerships: They have a long-standing partnership with Ripple Effect (formerly Send a Cow), a charity working in six African countries to train rural farmers in sustainable farming techniques, business skills, and gender inclusion. Riverford and its customers have raised over £1.15 million for Ripple Effect, supporting projects that build climate resilience and food security.
• Local Community Support: They also partner with other local charities like Chefs in Schools and Food in Community, donating organic veg and supporting initiatives that improve access to good food.

Riverford Organic Farmers stands as a powerful example of how a business can thrive while upholding strong ethical and environmental principles, inspiring a more sustainable and equitable food system from farm to fork.