Local MPs visit Riverford organic to support better
BUCKFASTLEIGH, DEVON: Newton Abbot MP Martin Wrigley yesterday joined Caroline Voaden, MP for South Devon, in a visit to Riverford Organic to showcase their support for local, purpose-driven businesses ahead of Better Business Day.
During the visit, hosted by the Better Business Act Campaign, Wrigley and Voaden heard how Riverford Organic's farming business model has supported local biodiversity and promoted a stakeholder-led approach by exclusively growing and distributing organic vegetables and food products through its pioneering veg box scheme.
The visit comes ahead of the Better Business Day parliamentary reception on 11 June, which will bring together politicians, policymakers, and major British businesses to recognise the work of purpose-led companies in driving growth and promoting sustainable business practices across the country.
Riverford Organic is a certified B Corporation, meaning it meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. It employs more than 1,000 workers and is headquartered in Buckfastleigh, Devon.
Both MPs also heard how Riverford’s approach to operating under a 100 per cent employee ownership scheme has empowered its staff to grow the business, benefitting the local economy and showing that purpose and profit go hand-in-hand.
UK laws currently encourage businesses to operate under a legal regime of shareholder primacy, which means company directors too often prioritise profit over people and the planet.
The Better Business Act campaign calls for an amendment to Section 172 of the Companies Act, giving all UK businesses the freedom to think for the future by aligning shareholder interests with those of employees, customers, local communities and the environment.
Martin Wrigley MP has been spearheading corporate governance reform in Parliament with his Company Directors (Duties) Presentation Bill, which is due to be debated on 4 July 2025.
The Bill has received strong support from cross-party MPs and the 3,000-strong Better Business Act coalition, which has grown tenfold since 2021.
Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot, said:
"The Company Directors (Duties) Presentation Bill is about fundamentally changing how businesses operate. We need a legal framework that empowers companies to prioritise long-term sustainability alongside financial success. Riverford Organic is a shining example of how businesses can create value for employees, communities, and the environment while remaining commercially successful.
"By introducing legislation that requires directors to consider the broader impact of their decisions, we can transform corporate governance and ensure that businesses become a genuine force for positive change."
Rob Haward, Chief Executive of Riverford Organic, said:
"At Riverford, we've always believed that business can be a powerful force for good. By becoming employee-owned and staying true to our organic principles, we're proving that you don't have to choose between doing right by people and the planet and running a successful business.
“The Better Business Act represents a crucial step towards reshaping how companies think about their role in society, not just as profit generators, but as responsible stewards of our shared environment and communities."
Chris Turner, CEO of B Lab UK, the charity behind the UK B Corp movement, and Campaign Director of the Better Business Act adds:
“We’re pleased that Martin Wrigley MP and Caroline Voaden MP have taken the time to meet Riverford Organic, a purpose-driven company that empowers its workers and embodies sustainability, benefitting the local economy and wider community.
“With the support of forward-looking MPs like Martin and Caroline, we're building momentum for a better approach to business that recognises success is about more than profit, and that a more sustainable future need not come at the expense of long-term growth”
Companies backing the Better Business Act now comprise a mix of local firms and SMEs, as well as high-street brands and publicly listed companies, spread across over 15 sectors, including technology, finance, insurance, and science.
Notable businesses include Iceland, Tony’s Chocolonely, Olio, Bloom & Wild, Charlie Bigham’s, HumanForest, Danone, Virgin Group, Little Moons, Gü, ELEMIS, as well as non-profits and membership organisations such as ShareAction, Institute of Directors and RSPB.
