Case Study:
JJ Foodservice Ltd, Multisite, Across the UK

JJ Foodservice Ltd

3.6 MWp (8,561 panels) installed across 12 sites in the UK

From sandwich bars to Michelin Stars

A family owned, independent company established in 1988, JJ Foodservice is an award winning and market leading wholesaler in food, packaging and hygiene products. The company caters for a wide range of businesses from schools to fine dining restaurants, retailers and independent takeaways.

Included in the Big 30 UK Wholesaler in the Grocer magazine’s annual ranking, the business operates out of its UK head office and warehouse in Enfield, with a network of 12 strategically placed UK branches providing nationwide coverage for collection or delivery.

National footprint, planetary plan

As a national business serving more than 100,000 customers, with a long heritage and a long term future, JJ Foodservice is committed to its responsibility to do business the right way. The JJ Planet Plan is manifest of that commitment, with measurable and meaningful goals to impact the company’s people, the planet and setting a positive example to drive industry standards.

Providing fresh, frozen, chilled and ambient food, JJ Foodservice recognised warehouse electricity consumption as one of its primary sources of fuel, carbon emissions and cost, and with that took the decision to commence a nationwide rollout of solar PV at their distribution centres.

JJ Foodservice Ltd, Multisite, Across the UK

Connect. Collaborate. Grow.

In 2022 JJ Foodservice contacted Mypower via a website enquiry. Quickly building a rapport and impressing the company with our heritage, knowledge and personal approach, JJ Foodservice commissioned Mypower to install 302.4 kWp of solar PV at its Bristol depot.

Such was JJ Foodservice’s satisfaction with the seamless installation at Bristol, that discussions commenced about a national agreement to replicate our exacting standards across the remainder of the warehouses. This led to a partnership agreement for a fully managed service across the UK portfolio, including all third party services from scaffolding to plant hire, electrical upgrades, network connections and roofing works.

This fully managed service was put to the test at the next installation of 396.10 kWp in Manchester, where under advice from Mypower it was agreed to replace the skylights with roof sheets in order to generate the highest possible proportion of renewable energy on site from safely maximising all available roof space.

A further unique challenge was the local Distribution Network Operator requiring harmonics studies to ensure synchorisation of the solar PV with the local network to ensure safe operating parameters. Mypower took this in our stride, designing a bespoke solution and commissioning pre-installation harmonics assessments to satisfy this requirement.

Distributed benefits

Our work as primary contractor in Bristol and Manchester has become the blueprint for Mypower to complete the national rollout of installations at Doncaster, Leeds, Aston, Newcastle, Sidcup, Dagenham and Enfield, with all systems due for completion and commissioning by the summer of 2024.

The national rollout will see a cumulative deployment of 3.6 MWp, powering JJ Foodservice’s operations with more than 3.3 GWh of renewable energy and driving an estimated 700 tonnes of carbon savings per annum. Crucially the systems will also significantly reduce energy expenditure, enabling JJ Foodservice to continue to offer affordable prices at a time when its customers need it most.

Key facts and predictions (based on all sites across the UK)

3.6 MWp (8,561 panels) installed.
3,338,653 kWh units of energy produced per annum.
£700,450 projected first year income and savings.
30.3% projected first year return on capital invested, before capital allowance benefits.
4.42p/kWh - the equivalent forward purchase price of 76.9 million units of electricity over 25 years including estimated operating & maintenance costs.
3.3 years - system payback before finance, tax and capital allowance and grant benefit.
£8,316,980 - Savings and income after 10 years after indexation.
85% saving from solar PV electricity compared to grid supplied electricity at 30p/kWh.
691 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided per annum.

“As a national business, we prioritise operating sustainably and making a positive impact on our surroundings. Our efforts to reduce carbon emissions have not only advanced our Planet Plan but also allowed us to lower electricity costs. This, in turn, enables us to offer high-quality products at affordable prices. Mypower’s team played a crucial role in managing this project efficiently and effectively, ensuring that we met the fast pace and scale required.”

Kaan Hendekli, COO at JJ Foodservice Ltd

“Mypower is a company built on its people, and delivering quality for the people we work with. The commitment, faith and trust shown in us by JJ Foodservice to partner across all of their UK distribution centres is an incredible endorsement of this people centric and quality led approach to our work. It’s been a pleasure working with the JJ team, and we look forward to our continued partnership as our respective businesses go from strength to strength”.

Stuart Storrer, Project Manager at Mypower