Only UK producer of pressed food-grade rapeseed oil, made without solvents.
Low carbon footprint with facility powered by its own renewable energy centre.
Brexit-proof business model dedicated to supporting UK agriculture, exclusively buying domestic rapeseed.
7th November 2019 – Yelo Enterprises has launched the UK’s only mechanically-pressed refined rapeseed oil having received the highest grade possible from the BRC Global Standard for food safety. The “AA” grade was confirmed by the BRCGS after Yelo’s first Food Safety Standard audit was completed in September. This milestone now enables Yelo to increase its production and supply refined oil more widely into the UK’s food ingredient and manufacturing sectors.
Commenting on the decision from the BRCGS, Kevin Ball, CEO of Yelo, said: “This AA rating from BRCGS is exactly what we were aiming for. To achieve it with our first ever audit is a testament to the great team we have put together at Yelo, and our commitment to food safety and product quality.”
“The food safety audit was a rigorous assessment of our state-of-the-art vegetable oil refinery and our bulk tanker loading facilities” adds Carlo Matos, Operations Director at Yelo. “This allows us to increase our refinery output towards its full capacity. Our refinery is the 3rd largest of its kind in the UK and we can supply up to 20% of the UK’s food grade rapeseed oil demand.”
Before embarking on the first new build integrated rapeseed crushing and refining facility in the UK for 40 years, Yelo took a step back and analysed the established industry profit model based on maximising oil extraction from the seed.
UK rapeseed contains high levels of oil which can be recovered partially by squeezing the seed in mechanical presses, or more fully extracted by dissolving the oil out the seed using hexane, a petrochemical solvent. The multinationals dominating global oilseed processing have universally adopted the chemical option. This deprives consumers of choice as to the level of processing embedded in a wide range of oils, subsequently used in everyday food products. Soybean, sunflower and rapeseed oils sold in the UK today are predominantly sourced from solvent-based facilities.
In contrast, Yelo has opted to only use mechanical presses. This conscious decision leaves more of the high value oil in the remaining solid fraction that is subsequently sold as animal feed.
Commenting on Yelo’s commitment to sustainability and its solvent-free process, Kevin Ball added: “We are committed to minimal processing and we believe this future-proofs our business. Everyone is more informed about food production and over-processing rarely provides health benefits. Removing the solvent step from the process has also allowed us to build a greener and safer operation.”
“As we have set out to produce food and feed products from rapeseed with the lowest carbon footprint, it was not tenable to adopt a technology that puts a fossil fuel derived solvent at the heart of the process. Furthermore, a solvent which can end up either being released to atmosphere or trace amounts potentially remaining in some of the products.” adds Ball.
True to their commitment to sustainability, Yelo has also invested in technology to generate its own heat and power requirements from renewable energy.
“We have already had great feedback on our pressed refined rapeseed oil. It’s an ideal ingredient in products such as mayonnaise and butter spreads, as well as being widely used in food and snack production. This certification will extend our reach into all these markets. And at a time when the world is facing a climate crisis, we are producing high quality animal feed and a vegetable oil with a low carbon footprint, that will reduce imports and, at the same time, support British agriculture” concludes Kevin Ball.
About Yelo
Yelo is at the forefront of the UK food and agricultural industry, proud to produce UK-sourced and sustainable products from rapeseed with its unique manufacturing process. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, the state-of-the-art production facility is powered by renewable energy. Here at Yelo, we believe that keeping manufacturing processes to a minimal help preserve the natural goodness of the rapeseed, yielding nutritious foods for human and animal consumption. This innovative, solvent-free and non-waste producing approach delivers optimised performance, and as we use 100% UK-grown rapeseed, we deliver big ideas with a small footprint. Please visit: www.yelo.com
About BRCGS
At BRCGS, we champion the highest quality. Improving trust in supply chains, through rigorous application of our Standards, we deliver products and services with global relevance and industry expertise. BRCGS is the trusted validation that strengthens Brand, Reputation through Compliance. For more information please visit brcgs.com
Note to editors
Photos available on request.
Contact
Sophie Le Metais 07876 860661, sophie.lemetais@yelo.com
Ed Hopkins 07940 968704, yelo@greenhousepr.co.uk
