For businesses across the food and drink sector, energy has become one of the most challenging and unpredictable operational costs to manage. Volatile wholesale markets, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and rising operational pressures mean that simply renewing a contract each year is no longer enough.
In a market where energy prices can shift dramatically within hours, the difference between exposure and control often comes down to two things: timing and who you have advising you. For many businesses, energy remains a reactive cost – something reviewed only when contracts are due for renewal.
But in today’s volatile market, that approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable. At Enava Energy, we believe energy should not simply be renewed, it should be actively managed. Our work with Cooked Meat Co. Ltd (CMC) demonstrates what that looks like in practice. CMC is a high-volume food production business specialising in high-quality, fully cooked meat products for retail, food service and manufacturing partners.
Established in 2010, CMC has built a reputation for delivering consistent, scalable and innovative solutions across a wide range of protein categories, including traditional cooked meats, sous vide and slow-cooked products.
Operating from two BRCGS AA+ accredited facilities in Northampton and Wellingborough, CMC combines culinary expertise with modern production techniques, underpinned by strict food safety, quality assurance and operational standards.
With continuous production requirements, refrigeration and cooking processes, energy is not a background cost for CMC, it is a major operational overhead and an important driver of commercial performance.
Like many energy-intensive manufacturers, CMC has had to manage exposure to market volatility, where procurement decisions and timing can have a meaningful impact on operating costs. Through ongoing support, market intelligence and proactive advice from Enava Energy, CMC has been able to procure its energy at the right times within the market, helping the business remain commercially competitive in an increasingly challenging environment.
Rather than waiting until contracts are due for renewal and simply accepting pricing available at that moment, CMC remains in regular contact with Enava Energy throughout the year. This enables the business to monitor market movements, identify favourable buying windows and take advantage of dips in the market when opportunities arise.
CMC has also acted on Enava Energy’s advice to extend contracts during more favourable market conditions, an approach that has paid dividends in mitigating the impact of what continues to be a highly volatile and risk-ridden market.
Having access to timely market updates and strategic procurement guidance has enabled the company to make informed decisions with greater confidence, while reducing unnecessary exposure tomarket spikes.
Importantly, businesses today need to understand the range of procurement options available to them. Whether that is fixed pricing for budget certainty, flexible purchasing strategies that allow organisations to average into the market over time, or hybrid approaches tailored to risk appetite and operational requirements, having the right advice is critical.
With access to more than 30 UK energy suppliers, Enava Energy provides both fixed and flexible procurement solutions alongside ongoing management support, helping businesses navigate increasingly complex market conditions.
Alongside procurement strategy, Enava Energy is also working with CMC on longer-term sustainability and efficiency initiatives, including exploring on-site solar generation and Voltage Optimisation (VO) technology.
These solutions can help reduce energy consumption, improve efficiency, lower long-term operating costs and support wider sustainability objectives. For CMC, energy is no longer a once-a-year conversation. It is an ongoing strategy supported by regular market updates, proactive advice and direct access to expertise when markets move quickly. That continuity enables decisions to be made with confidence rather than uncertainty.
In today’s energy landscape, that agility is critical. Markets are increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions, supply uncertainty and rapid price movements. Waiting for renewal is no longer a neutral position, and, in fact, that can be a costly one. This is why working with a trusted energy partner is more important now than ever.
Looking ahead, market uncertainty is expected to remain for some time. Risk premiums continue to be built into energy pricing, with elevated costs likely to remain a feature of the market for the foreseeable future. For businesses approaching renewals in 2026 and beyond, expert advice, procurement timing and ongoing management are becoming more important than ever.
At Enava Energy, we do not see ourselves as brokers operating at the edge of a transaction. We act as long-term energy partners – helping businesses reduce exposure to volatility, improve efficiency and make more informed commercial decisions in an increasingly challenging market.
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