Better Food Chooses Better Printers

The Better Food Company Ltd (known as Better Food), sells the very best organic, local and ethically-sourced food. Launched in 1992, the company now employs more than 100 people over three sites, providing a route to market for over 70 local businesses, including farms, producers, manufacturers and suppliers.

Its tagline – ‘organic, local, ethical’ – is reflected in everything the company does. The firm won’t stock anything unless it is happy with its origin, and its internal purchasing also reflects the high standards they expect of others. The company strives to purchase its utilities from sustainable sources, as well as the day-to-day items used across its branches and stores.

That’s why, when looking for a new printer set-up, Better Food turned to Epson to find the solution to their problem.

As Better Food is a multi-site business, spanning three retail stores across Bristol, and with a head office operation at one of the stores, having different tech at its various locations was causing user issues. With varying printer models and units at every site, each printer set-up offered a slightly different user experience – which also meant that different consumables had to be kept in stock at all times. This was becoming pricey – and adding an extra admin task to the company’s day-to-day operations.

The company was also using predominantly laser printers, with some inkjet products. The laser printers frequently required changes of toners and used up a lot of energy – which was contributing to increasingly expensive consumables and energy bills.

Keen to standardise its set-up across its different locations, and minimise its energy and parts bills, the company examined its options. Epson’s range of business inkjet printers, which offer significant CO2 and energy savings when compared with laser printers – using 96 per cent less energy, producing up to 92 per cent less CO2 and up to 99 per cent less waste than laser technology – was one of the most attractive features for the company, and consistent with their brand message.

“We could have achieved consistency across our stores with any brand – but no other brand that we looked at could get anywhere near the CO2 and energy savings that Epson offers,” commented Andreea Coculeasa, Office Manager at Better Food.

In order to meet the needs of each office location, Better Food has now tailored each set-up to its processes. The firm has opted for a variety of WorkForce Pro models to carry out the different tasks required of each department.

The HQ site is a busy admin office now using an Epson RIPS printer – the WorkForce Pro WF-R5690 – which holds lots of ink and requires very little user intervention, other than having to reload paper. The model offers super-high-yield printing – users can print up to 75,000 pages without replacing the ink.

In the marketing department of the site, a WorkForce Pro WF-8590 is used to print point of sale materials, marketing materials and rotas – whilst using up to 80% less power than competitive colour lasers, thanks to its no-heat technology.

In its other two locations, Better Food has also chosen a WorkForce Pro model – the WF-6590DWF, a multi-function device that offers print and copy functions, as well as streamlined document capturing and distribution. This has resulted in increased productivity and reduced intervention, as well as lower printing costs and environmental impact.

In the stockroom, WorkForce Pro WF-C5290DW units are used to print labels – a model that helps businesses save at least 50% on their colour cost per page and 90% energy versus comparable laser models.

Better Food uses a cloud-based computing infrastructure, hosted by a data centre – resulting in the same printing experience every time, no matter which branch something is printed at. Users at all locations can send print jobs to printers at any branch, which saves on travel and postage.

Implementing the new printer set-up has helped make Better Food’s costs more predictable. Before, different consumables were running out at different times, meaning that new parts were constantly being ordered. The new printers have also meant that the old days of bin liners full of inkjet cartridges are a thing of the past – which aligns perfectly with the company’s policies on recyclable and ethical packaging.

The firm – and its IT provider Push Solutions – are also using the Epson dashboard to give insights into the company’s printing requirements, ensuring that print volumes are kept on track and every device is functioning as it should. Extra insights – for example, Better Food has noticed that users print more in duplex (double-sided printing) – have also helped the company better assess its printing requirements.

Better Food has ambitious expansion plans and intends to include Epson technology as it grows – as the brand aligns with its ethical values – by rolling out the printer set-up in new branches that the firm sets up.

Push Solutions is also continuing to recommend Epson’s printers based on their financial and ethical credentials – and overall performance.  “Due to the CSR and cost savings that Epson’s printers offer, we have realigned our strategy and are now leading with Epson’s managed print solution,” comments Rob Shorland at Push Solutions.