ESG REPORT
From sustainability to ESG, supporting growth with purpose Following a 12-month strategic review, our
Country Range Group (CRG) Board of Directors and central office team have evolved our
existing sustainability pillar into ESG as one of the five areas of focus within our new Group strategic direction.
This is more than a change of name. Sustainability was often understood primarily through an environmental lens, particularly carbon emissions and resource use. While these remain critical, our responsibilities and opportunities are broader. ESG gives us a clearer structure for bringing together our environmental performance, support for people and communities, and the governance, data and decision-making needed to drive credible improvement. It reflects the way we already operate and provides a stronger framework for measuring progress, coordinating activity and supporting responsible growth across our Group. Our new strategic direction is built around three Group values.
• COLLABORATION • RESPECT
• GROWTH Developed with input from members, suppliers, customers and industry experts, it is shaped by five pillars: Scale, Our Brands, ESG, Digital and Data. Together, they provide a clear roadmap for responsible growth and focus investment where it can create the greatest value for our wholesalers, and their customer base. ESG sits across the whole strategy. It influences how we source our own brand products, support people across the membership, build partnerships, use data and invest for the future.
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| Country Range Group Sustainability Report 2026
A GROWING GROUP
Since our last report, our Group has continued to grow. We now bring together 17 members and 21 wholesalers, operating from 59 depots, employing more than 9,000 people and serving over 50,000 caterers each month. Group turnover has increased from £965million in 2024 to £1.09billion in 2025, leaving us on track to reach £1.2billion in 2026. That scale gives us greater influence and more opportunities to share expertise, raise standards and drive positive change. It also changes the shape of our environmental footprint. As new businesses join and activity increases, total emissions can rise even when individual organisations are improving. That is why we look at both our overall carbon footprint and carbon intensity when measuring progress.
INTRODUCING CRG IMPACT Unveiled at our 2026 annual exhibition and conference, CRG Impact is the umbrella identity for the environmental, social and governance activity led or supported by Country Range Group. It brings together our carbon and environmental work, responsible sourcing, colleague, wholesaler and customer support, industry partnerships, community activity, fundraising and the work we do to strengthen data, governance and accountability. Bringing this activity together under one identity will make it easier to communicate our priorities, demonstrate progress and show how individual initiatives contribute to a wider Group ambition.
2025 – 2026
Environment: UNDERSTANDING OUR IMPACT AND DRIVING REDUCTION
GROUP STATS
To reduce emissions, we first need to understand where they come from. We use internationally recognised reporting principles across three categories: Scope 1 - direct emissions from sources a business owns or controls, such as fleet fuel and gas used at operational sites. Scope 2 - indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heating and other energy used to power operations. Scope 3 - all other indirect emissions across the value chain, including purchased goods, suppliers, waste, commuting, business travel and distribution. Scope 3 is the largest and most complex area to measure because it depends on data and action across many organisations. Better collaboration between members, suppliers and partners will be key to improving data quality and identifying meaningful opportunities to reduce impact.
For more than three years, ClimatePartner has supported CRG and our members in measuring emissions, identifying key impact areas and developing practical, transparent climate strategies. Their expertise helps members build robust carbon footprints, identify realistic reduction opportunities and set measurable objectives, while aligning activity with recognised frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
21%
decrease in Carbon Intensity (tCO2e) from 2024 – 2025
6%
decrease in Carbon Footprint (tCO2e) from 2024 – 2025
A NEW LOOK, WITH ZERO PACKAGING WASTE With over 700 products in our growing portfolio, moving the entire Country Range brand to our vibrant new identity was a significant undertaking, and one we were determined to complete responsibly. Rather than disposing of perfectly usable packaging simply because it carried our previous branding, we carefully phased in our new designs as existing packaging stocks were used. We’re delighted to have now completed this transition, with our full product portfolio proudly carrying the new look and importantly, without wasting old branded packaging in the process.
TOTAL EMISSIONS ACROSS THE GROUP FOR 2025
Social: SUPPORTING PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND OUR INDUSTRY
CREATING SAFER FOOD ENVIRONMENTS
Our partnership with Natasha’s Foundation supports its ambition to prevent, treat and ultimately eradicate food allergies, while improving everyday life for those affected. CRG was the first foodservice buying group to partner with
the charity, committing £75,000 over three years alongside education and practical guidance. Ideagen Supply Chain (previously Authenticate) gives CRG and supplier partners greater visibility across Own Brand. Bringing product, supplier and sourcing data together strengthens due diligence, risk identification and decisionmaking, supporting a range built on quality, responsibility, resilience and transparency.
SUPPORTING FUTURE HOSPITALITY TALENT As headline sponsor of Springboard FutureChef, CRG helps young people discover skills and careers in hospitality, including those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Members can get involved through judging, mentoring and outreach.
2025/26 PROGRAMME
More than 24,000 people engaged 15,000+ students 513 schools 230+ hospitality professionals and business owners
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Country Range Group ESG Report 2026
PRACTICAL RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS AND CUSTOMERS We create practical resources to help members respond to customer needs and raise standards across foodservice, including:
IDDSI Guide practical support for texturemodified food and drink.
Guide to Managing Allergens developed through our partnership with Natasha’s Foundation.
GLP-1 Friendly Menu Guide helping caterers understand the needs of customers using weightmanagement medications.
Stir it up and our digital channels add menu inspiration, sector insight, allergen guidance and nutritional information, helping members become informed, trusted partners to customers.
2025 – 2026
CYCLING FOR CHANGE CRG is continuing its support for the Mines Advisory Group through the Bikes Against Bombs challenge. Seven representatives from across the Group are preparing to cycle more than 400km in Sri Lanka, raising funds for MAG’s work clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance and supporting communities affected by conflict. Rescheduled for 30 January to 6 February 2027 following concerns about instability in the Middle East, the challenge builds on CRG’s previous fundraising and demonstrates what can be achieved through commitment and collaboration.
PUBLISHING MORE RESPONSIBLY Our ESG commitments also shape how we produce Stir it up and other printed resources. Our print partner, Optichrome, is FSC and ISO 14001 certified, uses 100% renewable electricity and has introduced processless printing plates to reduce energy, water and chemical use. Paper is supported through carbon-balancing programmes, including the Woodland Trust and World Land Trust.
CARE BEYOND THE PAGE We want our resources to be useful, credible and produced with care for their environmental impact. That commitment extends to central office, where investments include electric vehicle charging, solar panels and battery storage.
TURNING INFORMATION Governance: INTO COORDINATED ACTION Our Central Office team has an important role in providing consistent methodologies, improving data quality and helping members understand what their information is telling them. This allows us to identify shared risks and opportunities, compare trends more meaningfully and focus support where it can have the greatest impact. Where members face common challenges, the Group can bring together expertise, share proven approaches and consider coordinated investment or solutions that may be difficult for individual businesses to deliver alone.
WHERE NEXT ON OUR ESG JOURNEY. As our network grows, so does our potential for positive change. Our priorities are to: •
Improve consistency of Scope 1, 2 and 3 reporting and reduce emissions across fleets, energy, refrigeration and operations.
•
Support lower-emission technologies and renewable energy.
•
Strengthen responsible sourcing, transparency and product data.
•
Ensure our own brands remain aligned with environmental, legislative and customer expectations.
•
Share best practice through forums including the CRG Operations Forum.
•
Invest in people, education, wellbeing and the future hospitality workforce.
•
Create social impact through partnerships, fundraising and volunteering.
Over the next phase, we will build on this through a new responsible sourcing framework, environmental targets for Own Brand, clearer data standards, central office and Member ESG Scorecards, and more structured monitoring of progress and outcomes. Through CRG Impact, we will also bring the Group together behind one high-impact ESG initiative, with an ambition to raise £1million over four years through challenges, fundraising, volunteering and member activities. The aim is not just to raise funds, but to bring colleagues together, support wellbeing and create lasting connections with the communities we serve.
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Committed to Scotland Dunns is an adaptable family business, creating sustainable local employment through an award-winning delivered wholesale service, primarily serving Scotland’s thriving hospitality sector. As a leading food and drink supplier, we are committed to making a positive impact on our communities. We are equally invested in environmental sustainability. In 2026, we continued to benefit from significant investment in energy-efficient infrastructure, introduced to mark our 150th anniversary. We have also continued to identify operational efficiencies that deliver real benefits, alongside developing new sustainable solutions for our customers. Find out more
15% 21% increase in Carbon Intensity (tCO2e) from 2024 – 2025
20 | Country Range Group ESG Report 2026
increase in Carbon Footprint (tCO2e) from 2024 – 2025
2025 – 2026
Combatting food waste KEY INITIATIVES
Our Young People: We have a ‘Grow Your Own’ approach to staffing across the business – including talent looking to step out from the hospitality industry. Our Charity Partners: Our 2026 charity partners are The Talbot Association, an under-recognised charity base in Scotland, yet the largest provider of residential services in Glasgow for people experiencing homelessness. We hope to raise the awareness the organisation deserves and throughout the year are supporting them with fundraising and event-based food sponsorship. Community Partnerships: We have continued our work with local partners Community Links this year, to run more successful ‘Making a Meal of It’ sessions within our development kitchen. Each session helps local families to create healthy, budget-friendly meals using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Football & Fun: We’ve also teamed up with Scotland’s oldest football club, Queen’s Park for a fourth season, providing matchday snacks for the team of ball attendants and sponsoring the man of the match award. We also work closely with the club to put on regular visits to see The Spiders for local charity AWARE Scotland which provides young people with life experiences, respite breaks and days out. Our Warehousing: Our main building boasts 1400 square metres of solar panels which now provide over 225,880 kwh per annum. We also use voltage optimisation to reduce electricity usage. Our state-of-the-art £1million CO2 refrigeration system has the lowest environmental impact of any refrigerant and provides around 250% more space.
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
The installation of a new pallet wrapping machine and new balers in to our warehousing has helped to deliver huge savings this year. Monthly skip costs of £2k month have been cleared, and in fact replaced with the ability to SELL back in to waste recycling as a new revenue stream.
Huge efforts are made daily in order to reduce stocks of date issue products, before they become a problem. However, we are pleased to support local charities like The Talbot Association and Share Alike in East Kilbride with any surplus stocks.
Hydration stations The latest NPD innovation from our dispense division provides bag-in-box solutions that are perfect for everything from soft play to care home residents. One box is equivalent to EIGHT five litre cordial containers, making for a very compact footprint that uses 95% less plastic and 84% less cardboard. Less Waste. More Time. Real Savings.
Thirst Aid Kits! Noting the number of costly journeys made only to make a simple fix, our team of engineers have also developed a trouble-shooting kit for customers to solve minor issues without a visit. This is already reducing the number of miles they rack up covering Scotland to keep Dunns products flowing!
Older equipment has also been replaced with electric models - better for the environment and our team!
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
We actively promote a wide selection of sustainable products including speciality local suppliers that can help to reduce road miles on menus. We even offer our own range of 100% recyclable bag-in-box dispense soft drinks
REDUCED DELIVERIES
We are actively reducing the numbers of inbound deliveries to our depot – reducing multiple visits from a supplier each month to a single load wherever possible. All outbound routes are now equipped with handheld devices for route optimisation and efficient delivery management.
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