Isle of Wight Tomatoes has announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
Isle of Wight Tomatoes has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represents its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.
The company has been championing the true taste of tomatoes from its home in Arreton since 2007, benefiting from the exceptional climate to nurture the most flavourful varieties. The Isle of Wight is ideal for growing tomatoes, boasting some of the highest sunshine hours in the UK, and its valuable light is intensified by the surrounding sea. It’s how the growers are able to deliver tomatoes that are rich, full flavored and delicious – just as they should be.
Paul Thomas, Managing Director of Isle of Wight Tomatoes, says:
“While this is a significant achievement for our team, we understand that it is just the beginning of our journey. Since day one we have always been about growing and creating the best possible products and doing this in the right way. Always being mindful of our impact on the environment and reducing waste of any kind.”
“To achieve this certification, companies must be verified by an independent third-party analyst to demonstrate responsible practices in areas like energy use, waste management, water consumption, diversity & ethics. Going through the B Corp accreditation process has revealed to me that whilst our current approach to several of these areas is all extremely positive, to really drive change for the better we need an ongoing plan and a vision. B Corp allows us to create a road map for the future.”
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says:
“Being able to welcome Isle of Wight Tomatoes to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Their commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and planet as it is about profit”.
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There are currently over 2,000 B Corps in the UK and 8,000 worldwide.
Best thing about the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight tomatoes
I’m genuinely curious as to how this is possible when they are owned by APS Group, the biggest grower of tomatoes in the UK.