'Sustainability is a core value and a business imperative': Ireland’s foodservice giant goes green in Belfast unveiling initiatives for £23m sustainable mega-hub

Sysco Belfast, the new £23 million state-of-the-art foodservice facility, is marking a major milestone for the specialist foodservice provider.

Beyond offering world-class logistics and distribution capabilities, the world-class facility in Crumlin, which opened its doors in September, has unveiled a comprehensive series of sustainability initiatives that reflect Sysco’s ambition to set the standard for a greener supply chain across the island of Ireland.

Built to the highest BREEAM standards, Sysco Belfast incorporates a wide range of sustainable features designed to minimise environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.

These include on-site solar generation, rainwater harvesting, a natural CO₂ refrigeration system, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) pumps for fuelling delivery vehicles, and a series of biodiversity enhancements. Each element underlines Sysco’s commitment to creating positive change for the environment and the communities it serves.

Mark Lee, chief executive of Sysco Ireland, said: “At Sysco, sustainability is a core value and a business imperative.

"From how we power our fleet to how we build our facilities, we’re making strategic, long-term decisions that support a more sustainable future for our customers, colleagues, and communities.

"The sustainability initiatives in Sysco Belfast are part of our wider commitment to reducing our own operational impact while supporting customers achieve their sustainability goals.”

The Belfast facility follows on from Sysco’s renewable energy ambitions demonstrated at its Dublin site, where 2,640 solar panels were installed. At Belfast, 2,600 high-efficiency solar panels are expected to generate approximately 16% of the site’s annual electricity demand, contributing significantly to lowering the facility’s carbon footprint. Meanwhile, sustainable water management practices, such as rainwater harvesting, reduce reliance on mains water and support eco-conscious operations across the site.

A standout feature of the Belfast facility is its cutting-edge natural refrigeration system. With a global warming potential (GWP) of just one — compared to traditional systems with GWPs of over 3,000 — the system is both environmentally friendly and highly efficient. It repurposes waste heat to provide underfloor heating and hot water throughout the building, demonstrating the integration of sustainable technology into everyday operations.

Sustainability extends beyond the site itself to Sysco’s fleet of 400 vehicles serving over 10,000 customers across Ireland. The company is introducing HVO fuel, a renewable diesel alternative, across its operations.

This year, more than 20% of the Northern Ireland fleet will operate on HVO, with a target of reaching 55% fleet coverage across Ireland by the end of 2027.

Once fully implemented, this initiative is expected to reduce scope 1 emissions by approximately 6,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, reinforcing Sysco’s commitment to its Science Based Targets for reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 27.5% by 2030.