Tugo
An impact journey built around progress over perfection
Let’s start at the beginning
Tugo is a foodservice business that is “all about good honest food that creates pleasurable experiences“.
True Horizon started working with Tugo back in 2021.
And while it’s very common for organisations to share their sustainability achievements when they’re already well into the journey, this raises a very good question.
Where did they start?
For Tugo, the journey hasn’t been a straight line or a polished PR exercise. It’s been an evolution of getting under the skin of the business, asking tough questions, and deciding exactly what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.
1. THE HONEST START
It began with a spreadsheet and a realisation. In 2021, Tugo started being asked for their carbon data. So that’s where the journey started: with a Carbon Emissions Assessment.
Working with True Horizon, they collated the necessary data and crunched the numbers. It wasn’t perfect, but it was honest. It showed them exactly where the “hotspots” were and, more importantly, where the missing data was. It was the nudge they needed to stop guessing and start measuring.
2. THE BUILD
Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. So the next phase was to develop an EMS or Environmental Management System. This allowed Tugo to monitor, track and reduce carbon emissions.
Together we put processes in place to gather missing data, engage with suppliers, set targets and plan for reduction projects around budgets and resources.
Building in regular reviews and senior leaderships buy-in helped to solidify the plan and increase Tugo’s chances of hitting their targets.
3. BEYOND EMISSIONS
Sustainability is often framed as just carbon emissions but Tugo’s values extend beyond that. So we ran a series of workshops over six months to investigate the wider impacts.
Together, we assessed social impacts as well as environmental ones – food miles, fair wages, employee wellbeing, soil health, animal welfare, palm oil, plastic waste, and food poverty – and asked suppliers, employees, and customers what they actually care about.
We also uncovered potential business risks and unlocked opportunities to make Tugo’s operations more resilient.
The result? An Impact Roadmap that didn’t just look at emissions, but at the legacy Tugo wants to leave and the meaningful difference they want to make.
4. THE B CORP MILESTONE
Once we’d created Tugo’s impact plan, we decided that we wanted to bolster the strategy with external verification. So we started looking for a certification that was aligned.
And B Corp fit the bill.
It focused on environmental as well as social impact, there was a growing community committed to using business for good and it reflected Tugo’s own values and purpose.
After a rigorous year of gap analysis, evidence-gathering and verification with B Lab, Tugo officially became a B Corp in March 2025. Joining this community wasn’t just a badge; it was a commitment to never stop improving.
5. THE TUGO PILLARS
Tugo’s journey helped them to distill their purpose into seven core pillars that guide every decision they make:
- Strong Partnerships that allow everyone in their value chain to thrive
- Working with organisations that share aligned values
- Supporting everyone in the business by prioritising employee wellbeing
- Defining what good food means, from responsibly sourced and nutritious ingredients to reduced food miles
- Empowering customers and communities through knowledge sharing
- Giving back to help build a more equitable food system
- Taking responsibility for their climate impact by championing healthy soils, protecting biodiversity and reducing carbon emissions
6. THE RESULT
Tugo has transitioned from “reacting to requests” to “setting the pace.” Today, they operate with a level of strategic confidence that allows them to:
- Monitor progress against ambitious impact targets
- Adapt seamlessly to evolving landscapes and requirements like the new B Corp standards
- Communicate their progress with 100% transparency
And there’s still plenty more to come! This year Tugo is continuing the journey towards their Net Zero target and will be transitioning to the new B Corp standards which now covers seven new impact areas.
Ultimately they’ve created an approach that supports business resilience, is adaptable and designed to keep them moving forward.
And as their roadmap evolves, they’ll continue to find new ways to make a meaningful difference they can be proud of.
7. THE TAKEAWAY
Tugo didn’t wait for a certification to tell them what to do. They built a strategy that gave them the confidence to lead, and the certification acted as a bolster in support of their goals.
What could your organisation achieve with a roadmap this clear?
Get in touch for B Corp support or to develop your organisation’s impact roadmap.
We began working with Nancy in 2021, and together we have built a strong foundation of sustainability strategy, carbon reduction targets, social governance, all of which led to assisting us with achieving B Corp certification in March 2025.
Nancy has brought a wealth of knowledge to what is often a complex and challenging area and has an exceptional ability to translate this into clear, achievable actions.
As a result, we have developed a genuine competitive advantage in our marketplace and are now well placed to support our customers in achieving their own sustainability goals.
It has been a pleasure working with Nancy, and we look forward to continuing the relationship as we move into future B Corp renewals and the next phase of our sustainability journey.
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