Case Study: How Global Foods Saved £10,700 Per Year on Energy Costs
Client Overview
Global Foods is a mid-sized UK food distribution company supplying fresh and frozen products to hospitality venues and retailers across the country. Operating from a 55,000 sq ft warehouse with large-scale refrigeration, office space, and daily logistics activity, energy is naturally one of their biggest overheads.
By early 2024, rising electricity prices — combined with growing operational demand — had pushed their annual energy spend to over £68,000. In an already competitive sector, this was putting increasing pressure on margins.
The Challenge
Like many growing businesses, Global Foods knew their energy costs were high — but didn’t have the time or specialist knowledge to properly analyse where savings could be made.
Some of the key issues included:
- High electricity bills with little visibility on peak usage
- Refrigeration units running continuously without optimisation
- Outdated warehouse and office lighting
- No structured energy procurement strategy
- Limited in-house capacity to review contracts or negotiate better terms
The leadership team needed clarity and a practical plan — without disrupting day-to-day operations.
The Solution
Rob carried out a full independent energy audit and cost review, delivering a clear, staged savings strategy.
- Energy Usage Analysis
By reviewing 24 months of billing data and half-hourly consumption records, several inefficiencies were identified, including:
- Peak demand spikes outside normal operating hours
- Inefficient refrigeration cycling
- High overnight base-load consumption
The analysis showed that nearly 18% of electricity usage was happening outside core business hours — a significant opportunity for improvement.
- Contract & Tariff Optimisation
Rob renegotiated the company’s electricity contract to secure:
- A more competitive fixed-rate tariff
- Removal of unnecessary pass-through charges
- Better capacity alignment with actual demand
Annual saving: £4,300
- Operational Efficiency Improvements
A number of practical, low-disruption improvements were implemented:
Refrigeration optimisation
- Adjusted temperature banding without compromising food safety
- Installed smart timers and monitoring controls
Lighting upgrades
- Replaced outdated fluorescent warehouse lighting with LED fittings
- Installed motion sensors in low-traffic areas
Behavioural improvements
- Introduced energy-awareness guidance for staff
- Implemented shutdown procedures for idle equipment
Annual saving: £6,400
The Results
| Improvement Area | Annual Savings |
| Tariff renegotiation | £4,300 |
| Refrigeration optimisation | £3,900 |
| Lighting upgrades | £2,100 |
| Behavioural & operational changes | £700 |
| Total Annual Savings | £10,700 |
Additional Benefits
- 16% reduction in overall electricity consumption
- Improved cost predictability and cash flow stability
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Return on investment achieved within 11 months
- No disruption to operations
Director Testimonial
“We knew our energy bills were high, but we didn’t realise how much money we were leaving on the table. Rob handled everything — from contract negotiations to practical improvements on site. The savings speak for themselves.”
— Owen Davies, Director, Global Foods Ltd
Final Impact
By partnering with Business Sense Consultancy Services, Global Foods reduced annual energy costs by £10,700, improved operational efficiency, and put a structured energy strategy in place to support future growth.
For businesses facing rising energy costs, a thorough and independent review can often uncover substantial hidden savings — just as it did for Global Foods.