Food Chain - Issue 207 - August 2025 | Page 36

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“ When we started Oddbox, we didn’ t have a grand vision; we just wanted to do something that made a positive difference,” Emilie opens.“ The story starts in Portugal, when I came across some amazingly tasty but seriously ugly tomatoes, and that made me wonder why I never found tomatoes like these in the UK. I started doing some research on the UK’ s food system and I was shocked to learn how much food never even leaves the farm, not because it’ s bad quality, but because it’ s the‘ wrong’ shape, size, or surplus to requirements.
“ We started small, delivering boxes of odd and surplus produce to around 20 neighbors and friends in Balham, London. This simple mission has evolved significantly, and we no longer see ourselves as just rescuers of food but as enablers of more conscious eating. Our longer-term vision is to reconnect people with nature and the food system to help them eat better for the benefit of both themselves and the planet.
“ Staying true to this vision is central to every decision we make, embedding sustainability and impact into our strategic growth and product innovation,” she states.“ Our B Corp certification ensures we uphold this vision, guiding all our strategic decisions as we scale. B Corp isn’ t just a badge but a framework we use to keep ourselves accountable and continuously look to improve our operation. There were already lots of things we were doing right, but there were some other areas to focus on, and the B Corp framework has shaped our culture and policies, as well as how we source and work with our partners.”
Elaborating on Oddbox’ s products, Emilie continues:“ Our core offering is a subscriptionbased fruit and vegetable box service, with flexible customization options. We recently expanded to include‘ The Market,’ offering rescued ambient products, eco-friendly household items, and refillable pantry staples. Soon, we will further evolve into a full natureled meal solution service, aimed at making sustainable eating easier and more accessible.
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