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Warehouses and production sites are among the most energy-intensive parts of the food and beverage supply chain – but they also offer the biggest opportunities for decarbonisation. Ben Tiffany, building services director at Sigma, explains how partnering with an end-to-end solutions provider can help companies reduce emissions, cut costs and future-proof operations while meeting sustainability goals.

The food and beverage industry is diverse, encompassing everything from agriculture and food processing to transportation and distribution. While susthe sector is one of the UK’s largest industrial sectors and a cornerstone of the national economy, it is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions – at each stage of this complex supply chain, energy is required.

With rising consumer demand for sustainable products and tightening regulations, companies face growing pressure to decarbonise their operations. Energy-intensive facilities – factories, processing plants and warehouses – are key to the decarbonisation challenge. Collectively, the energy used for refrigeration, temperature control, ventilation and lighting, alongside the requirements of processing and packaging lines, account for some of the highest operational costs.

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While installing new technology and operational processes can be costly and disruptive, upgrading to modern, energy-efficient systems offers a host of long-term benefits. With expert-led support, facility owners and managers can reduce emissions, cut costs, and create more resilient operations.

Partnering with experts

Delivering effective decarbonisation in the sector is complex – attempting to coordinate separate contractors for energy, construction and compliance can often result in miscommunication, delays and unforeseen costs.

By contrast, working with an experienced end-to-end solutions provider offers facility owners and managers a seamless, integrated route to achieving their sustainability ambitions. From the start, an end-to-end partner provides complete oversight of the project journey, bringing all elements together into a cohesive strategy.

This approach ensures that bespoke requirements, such as refrigeration, heating, lighting, storage systems, or renewable energy integration, are considered from the outset and embedded, ensuring that facilities are not only functional but are also tailored to long-term business needs.

A strategic approach

Because no two facilities are alike, a strategic approach is required to ensure carbon reduction, compliance and a balancing of costs. End-to-end solutions providers understand the considerations that underpin sustainable upgrades – whether it is reinforcing a roof to support solar PV panels or improving insulation to maximise heat recovery. By addressing these details early, they can help create facilities that deliver immediate efficiency gains while remaining adaptable for future growth.

For projects like solar energy installations, for example, it begins with providers taking the time to understand the client’s sustainability goals, the facility’s make-up, existing energy use and suitability for different solar panels. Adopting this approach allows the provider to suggest solutions that can deliver ROI from estimated energy savings as well as CO2 improvements.

On-site surveys are used to refine system design and ensure safety and compliance, which can include assessments of roof condition, structural capacity and electrical infrastructure, as well as the feasibility of installing power storage units and grid connection approvals.

All this is followed by the design and planning stage, during which a detailed installation strategy with exact costs and timeline is produced. Once approved, the installation schedule is confirmed, and the build phase is prepared.

Following this, a programme of works will be coordinated to ensure a smooth process with minimal disruption – which can have significant cost and delivery implications – including construction scheduling, logistics, and build times, all without sacrificing quality or health and safety standards.

During installation, expert teams will install the improvements safely and with minimal disruption, carrying out quality checks and safety inspections before any new systems are switched on. Commissioning follows, during which performance tests are run and employees are given a full demonstration of the system.

Benefits beyond the obvious

The benefits of working with an end-to-end solutions provider also extend to the delivery phase. With a single point of contact overseeing procurement, construction, and scheduling, project teams can work in a far more coordinated way, avoiding duplication, delays and unnecessary costs.

On-site, this means the seamless integration of mechanical and electrical systems, HVAC, drainage, lighting, fire safety and renewable technologies such as PV and battery storage. By taking responsibility for the full scope of works, an end-to-end provider eliminates the gaps that often arise when multiple contractors are involved.

Sustainability and compliance are also built into the process. With increasing pressure on brands to demonstrate environmental progress, working with a provider committed to greener procurement, recycling of old equipment, and reduced waste ensures projects meet sustainability expectations as well as regulatory standards.

Crucially, end-to-end partners will consider the lifecycle of the facility beyond the immediate fit-out or installation. Ongoing performance monitoring, annual reviews, and recommendations for efficiency upgrades will form part of a long-term partnership. This approach reduces operational costs, extends the lifespan of systems and ensures that facilities continue to evolve in line with sustainability best practice.

A competitive advantage

The benefits of sustainable facility upgrades extend far beyond carbon reduction. Energy-efficient systems will significantly lower operating costs, helping businesses tackle one of their largest overheads. At the same time, modern systems offer greater reliability, which reduces downtime and maintenance needs while supporting uninterrupted production – a crucial consideration in the sector.

Additionally, facilities designed with flexibility in mind are better equipped to adapt to future regulations, emerging technologies, and shifting market demands. When evaluated over their full lifecycle, these upgrades often provide a compelling return on investment, balancing upfront capital costs with long-term operational savings.

By viewing sustainability as both an environmental responsibility and a business opportunity, companies can shift the conversation from short-term expense to long-term value creation, as embracing sustainable upgrades will not only reduce their environmental footprint but also unlock efficiencies, cost savings and long-term resilience.