Greenhouse Pioneer: Rich Osborn, Fresh Range

Over the last year Fresh Range has achieved significant things, bringing local, fresh and award winning organic produce straight to their customers and more recently schools in Bristol and Bath. Greenhouse recently spoke to Rich Osborn, the Founder of Fresh Range, who have created a new business model that brings low food miles and cuts out the supermarkets.

Tell us about Fresh Range, what’s your mission?

Our mission is to create a happy shoppers, producers and team members by delivering exceptional food experiences and developing food security for generations to come.

What drives you? 

I’m doing this because I love food, support business and am driven by the sense of purpose. In the past I have worked with businesses that I haven’t felt the same passion for. I wanted to pick an industry that I really enjoy, which is food and drink. I want to leave a positive mark on the world, and that’s what I think Fresh Range is doing.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

I was proud when we past the milestone of delivering to every postcode in Bristol and Bath, also we’re now delivering local produce to thousands of school children for their school lunches which was a massive step change.

What are the challenges you face?

The challenges we face include having enough locally grown produce across the year and minimising the reliance on imported food. The greatest challenge is to increase the supply on really high quality organic local produuce to feed our cities so that we become more self sufficient. Particularly, with the uncertainty around Brexit there’s never been a more important time to do that.

What are you working on that’s getting you fired up and excited?

We’re about to prepare for a launch into restaurants, supplying with them locally sourced food which is our future focus for Fresh Range.

Where do you want to take Fresh Range next?

We want to be able to establish Fresh Range as a model for regions that’s sustainable, it’s a completely different way of delivering food to customers.

Local producers who work with Fresh Range to deliver local food

What can we, as individuals, do to make a difference?

There’s never been a more important time than now, during Brexit, to support your local farmers, go to your local farmers market and find producers that are producing food near you, and develop a relationship with them. By shopping on Fresh Range you are supporting these producers that you may be relying on in the future for food security.

How is what you are doing inspiring change in others?

Councils are starting to show interest and engage on a public sector level, so perhaps we can take some credit for that, with councils now procuring differently.

Can you recommend a life or game changing book for our readers?

Graham Harvey as an author is someone I would recommend to read, all about putting the countryside to work to feed our cities. I believe in what he has to say in terms of getting land (like grade-a agricultural land outside of Bristol) working to grow food for people down the road.

What do you listen to when you’re cooking dinner? 

This is going to be an embarrassing answer, I like to listen to a good bit of jazz whilst I’m cooking!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Quit your job! Some advice from my wife.

Can you leave us with who’d be your eco hero?

I think that Guy Watson has established a principle based business that’s profitable and sustainable and delivers to thousands of buyers and hundreds of sellers, and I truly believe that he has the interest of people and planet at heart.

To read more of our interviews of other inspiring business pioneers then head over to our pioneer series.