R&M Forwarding celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. In February, 2011, the fruit expediter moved to the former Ebrex building in Schiedam, and in 2013 the company opened a second office in the FMI building in Ridderkerk. "We have been through a significant expansion, and have had a good start in Ridderkerk. In Schiedam we mainly deal with complete pallets, while in Ridderkerk we mostly focus on the more detailed work," says Rien van Beek, who has been working in fruit expediting for over thirty years, including at Frans Maas and Ebrex.
Over the years, the work has changed quite a bit, Rien says. "You're seeing the market change. Shipping agents work directly with retailers. We are not just called on for the storage and transfer of fruit, but also for other logistical services in addition to customs clearance and (re)packaging. We often represent the foreign suppliers in properly handling the logistical process - with any service needed. In addition, we have our own four-man survey team. Everything is organized to be as flexible as possible. When our clients' containers arrive in Schiedam on Thursday or Friday, we need to get the goods to Germany before the weekend, for instance, as quickly as possible and in good order. Inspection, import, placing the recipient's own barcode labels, it's all part of the job."
Many clients are connected to R&M Forwarding's IT system, developed by Rien himself. "I can code, which means I was able to create a system, translating my practical experience into that. My vision is that IT has to work for you, not the other way around. Good logistics is only possible when the information is shared properly, and now that occurs with a system to which many suppliers from South Africa and South America are connected. Through our web portal, our relations can do things like looking at what they have in storage, managing, and checking. This information is updated in real time, so our relations always have the most up-to-date information at their disposal. Our warehouse boasts a full track-and-trace system, which means we can determine the status and location of a pallet at any given moment. Our internal barcode system, linked to the iPad scan app, makes it simple and straightforward for our staff to pick, exchange or inspect pallets for quality. We're now also selling this Warehouse Management System (WMS) more widely. One thing we hear often: Finally a system that works!"
The Ridderkerk location, with a capacity for 3,500 pallet places, really hit the spot, Rien says. "We are independent, and several 'neighbours' make use of our services. Contrary to the Westland, there wasn't, in my view any logistical service provider here that was able to offer the full range regarding fruit logistics. For us, it's a fantastic building. In the near future, as we were asked by an avocado client, will also have some ripening cells built. We already have a net machine for avocados in Ridderkerk for a major client, and soon a packing line will be installed from South Africa for grapes. We don't work for the smallest of clients, and what we do, we want to do 100%, which is valued. In those ten years, not a single client has left because of something wrong with our service, and our list of clients is only growing."
Rien isn't afraid that less fruit will come to Europe from South America and South Africa in the future. "Of course other destinations are being looked at, and they may pay a higher price. The local markets are also becoming increasingly important for the fruit producing countries. But Europe will always remain an important market. With the port of Rotterdam and the Westland and Barendrecht close by, logistically speaking we're in a fantastic spot, of course."
For more information:
R&M Forwarding B.V.
Mercuriusweg 12
3113 AR Schiedam
Port no. 406
Tel. +31(0)10-2444040
Fax +31(0)10-4766530
rien@rmforwarding.com
www.rmforwarding.com