The Foodmove CEO, Tevin Tobun recently spoke to The Times enterprise network, sharing his personal journey in business and the growth of his subsidiary companies.

Tobun graduated from Middlesex University London with a degree in health studies and a desire to take the unconventional route to becoming an entrepreneur. After being denied funding by The Prince’s Trust, a charity founded by Prince Charles to help disadvantaged young people with opportunities, Tobun shared how it affected him. “I started to think maybe… I better should just get a job like everyone else. But by the time I got home I’d decided I was made for this and was going to go for it anyway”.

Despite facing an initial rejection for investment, Tobun persevered and was determined to gain financial support elsewhere. He was granted funding by the Walworth Academy principal, Elizabeth Hanham at the time. Tobun stated “I was 22… There were groups of men in their 40s and 50s huddled together in groups”. He went onto explain to the investor “If you’re looking for experience, I clearly don’t have as much as everyone else. What I do have is the desire to win”. The school’s principal granted a young aspiring Tobun a chance with his business idea and this is mirrored in the work of his foundation that was established in 2020. “As a leader, it’s incumbent on you to create future leaders.”

Tobun’s first business venture was a one-stop-shop service supplying building maintenance and support services for schools. After acknowledging the dilemma distribution firms faced in transporting meals to schools around central London, due to the lack of mobility of the large HGV’s, Tobun moved into the food transport industry. Foodmove which specialise in food transport in the public and commercial sector, was able to offer their services to supermarkets such as Iceland and Tesco to provide support with the driver shortages due to the company’s ability to remain flexible in last-mile food delivery.

Foodmove are now recognised as one of the UK’s leading food transport last mile delivery companies. Tobun suggested one of the factors of success of the group was based on the flat organisational system that “helped the firm to stay nimble”. He also went onto to say “the idea doesn’t have to doesn’t have to come from the guy at the top because you’re not the only one that has all the ideas… so, you create an ecosystem where ideas can flow very quickly and people are not afraid of trying”.

Foodmove CEO meets Prince Charles at Clarence House

This week, Tobun alongside other notable awardees – Baroness Amos, David Harewood and Kwame Kwei Armah to name a few – were invited to attend a Powerlist reception hosted by The Prince of Wales at Clarence House.

During the reception at Clarence House, The Prince of Wales made a keynote speech addressing attendees, networked with guests and spent some time speaking with Tobun about GV Group and his last mile delivery firm Foodmove

Tobun shared with Prince Charles that  Foodmove is a key transport and logistics company that transports food and supplies for wholesalers, caterers and retailers such as pubs, bars, cafes across the country.

The Powerlist celebrates 100 of the U’s most influential people of African, African Caribbean and African-American heritage, who act as a role model for young people.

Now in its 16th year, the network honours people across a wide range of industries including business, science, technology and the arts.

#diversityandinclusion #leadership #entreprenruship #EvaOmaghomi #ClarenceHouse #PrinceCharles #PrinceofWales

Foodmove, a leading transport and logistics partner for wholesalers, contract caterers, manufacturers and retailers, has announced a £1m investment in new, more environmentally friendly vehicles.

The company, which is part of GV Group (Gate Ventures), has bought a fleet of 50 Euro 6 compliant vans as part of a move to future-proof its operations.

The 3.5t vehicles feature multi-temperature transport capabilities, enabling both chilled and ambient product to be delivered at the same time without any loss of quality.

The vehicles will have GPS tracking systems fitted, enabling the company to restrict its drivers to only doing a limited number of miles. The systems will still enable clients to monitor deliveries and progress.

Investment in Euro 6 vehicles is part of Foodmove’s strategy to both reduce its environmental impact and futureproof its business. Vehicles that are not Euro 6 compliant are subject to the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) in London, a levy for drivers of the highest polluting vehicles.

The ULEZ is set to expand from Central London to all areas inside the North and South Circular from 26 October 2021.

The Euro 6 standard was introduced in 2015 to reduce harmful pollutants from vehicle exhaust emissions, including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. The knock-on effect of reducing these pollutants can also mean improved fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Tevin Tobun, CEO, Foodmove, said: “Much of Foodmove’s success stems from its ability to be constantly agile and to plan ahead. We are always looking for new ways to make our operations more efficient, both for our customers and clients and the world in which we live.”

Piers Zangana

Director
Susa Comms

m: 07960 078 935

e: piers.zangana@susacomms.com
w: www.susacomms.com
t: @piersz

Susa Comms. Share your story.