A VEGETABLE box delivery service has gone national – and introduced zero-emissions transport.

Boxxfresh, which was named by the Independent as one of the UK’s best three “veg box” services, expanded from Hampshire to launch across the country in July.

The company looked for a logistics partner that could help it grow without increasing its environmental footprint. Its search led to a meeting with Zedify, which specialises in zero-emission deliveries in urban areas and had recently launched its services in Southampton.

Boxxfresh ran a pilot project in July and is delivering to Winchester and Southampton postcodes from this month, using zero emissions electric cargo bikes and “e-vans”.

Kelly Barfoot, founder of Titchfield-based Boxxfresh, said: “Expanding from a regional to a nationwide service was always something we hoped would happen with Boxxfresh, but it took the positive feedback from the Independent to give us the confidence boost we needed.”

Business partner and sustainable agriculture specialist Jon Barfoot said: “We’re delighted at the outcome of our test collaboration with Zedify.

“Customers repeatedly tell us they choose Boxxfresh for our eco-credentials such as our ‘Naked Veg Pledge’ removing single-use plastics, and that they are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint – so it makes complete sense to take our commitment to sustainability further with urban deliveries made in zero-emissions vehicles.”

Zedify’s e-bikes can carry 40 veg boxes on a single route. The company says it will be able to save several tonnes of CO2 a year in Southampton and Winchester.

Boxxfresh says it is providing a sustainable alternative to plastic-covered vegetables and CO2 pollution.

The company said: “Locally grown fresh produce is inherently healthy, so we need to find delivery solutions to keep it that way without the food miles or faff of supermarkets.

“The only limit to the success of the Boxxfresh e-bike delivery service will be bringing enough new customers on board to expand the catchment and make the service efficient.

“We will be talking with new customers throughout Winchester and Southampton postcodes to win their support of our zero-emissions service.”

Kelly and Jon Barfoot started the business in 2017 from their kitchen table. It is based on a farm in Titchfield and uses local independent producers who harvest daily.

The company’s veg boxes start at £15, with free delivery for orders over £40. It pledges not to employ single-use plastic and collects old boxes to reuse.

Zedify says it has worked with more than 300 customers and delivered more than 300,000 items in the past year across its network of eight urban hubs.

It says 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions could be prevented each year if electric cargo bikes were used where feasible.

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