Our Goals for 2024!

“What are your new year’s resolutions then?”

I can’t be the only person whose mind goes blank when asked this question, whilst also jumping to the extremes. Is the answer supposed to be focused on the physical? “50 Marathons this year!” (my legs feel tired just thinking it). Am I meant to be enhancing my CV? “6 extra degrees!” (just finished uni, no way am I going back to education yet). What about something for the planet? “I’m going to plant a whole forest!” (as heroic as that sounds, no.) After shaking all unrealistic ideals out of my head, I decided to sit down with a blank piece of paper and work out where I see myself by the end of 2024, and then did the same for Berries Unlocked, checking and improving with the team afterwards. So here goes…

For us, it was simpler to divide our goals for Berries Unlocked into three. We talk about 3BL enough for it to infiltrate the way we see the business - people, planet and then profit.

1 - People goals

Our impact on people is hard to define, manage and therefore set goals around, but we got there in the end. In 2024, we’re planning to continue to donate to (and volunteer at) the Haygrove Community Garden Initiative. It is such a great initiative that creates a safe space for adults with disabilities and mental health illnesses, engages with local schools and even has a zero waste stall open on the weekends; gathering out-of-date and over-ordered food from local supermarkets to offer to the locals in Ross-on-Wye. It was an easy decision to continue showing our support for this hub that brings people and nature together. Alongside the Gardens, we’re also going to donate fruit to the local food bank in Ledbury, and the team is going to volunteer at local events. It’s our way of giving back to the community that supports us every time they buy fruit from our stand or vending machines.

2 - Planet goals

Our environmental goals for 2024 are similar to those of previous years: stay carbon neutral by offsetting our emissions through backing our chosen UN projects. However, this year, we’re also aiming to reduce our fruit waste by giving away more 2nd-class trays for baking and jam-making, and plan to reduce plastic waste by recycling all punnets. We’re also in the process of looking into cardboard punnets so that we can eliminate plastic use at our sites once and for all.

3 - Profit goals

Yes, of course, we need to make enough money to keep the business going! As simple as it may seem, we drilled down into the numbers to set some concrete goals to hopefully help us achieve this in 2024. These included a bigger focus on marketing, setting sights on creating a campaign video for the vending machines. We have also decided to open three stalls this summer, dotted around the Herefordshire countryside, rather than our usual one in Ledbury.

I think it’s safe to say we’ve got our work cut out for us! With plans already in motion, we can’t wait to make 2024 a great one and want to take the opportunity thank you all for your continued support for this little business, one year at a time!

If you want to stay up-to-date and see how we’re getting on with our 2024 goals, sign up to our newsletter now (no spamming, just a monthly hello and the odd berry fact to keep you going!)

Ariana x