"Flying start for Van Den Bos Freshpartners"

On the first of November 2013 Van den Bos Freshpartners opened a fully renovated cooling house at ABC Westland in Poeldijk. Although the Van den Bos group was originally specialised in the international sales and cooled storage and transhipment of lily bulbs, the extension fit into the group's strategy of developing further as a logistic service supplier. With employees who have years of experience in the fruit and vegetable sector, the cooling house offers a full package of services in which a customer can outsource the logistics fully or partially. This includes cooled storage and transhipment, cross docking, customs handling, KCB inspection, container and distribution transport, packaging, repackaging, sorting and quality control.

Tevreden
After starting with four employees, the activities have now been considerably extended and extra space is even being rented at the moment. Director Edwin Steenbergen and operational manager Rene Tunker look back at the last ten months with satisfaction. "The IFS, SKAL and AEO certification was sorted quite quickly and we extended our activities step by step. We have a sharp focus in acquisition. We are mainly focusing on companies that want to outsource all their logistics. These companies demand involvement, flexibility, pro active action and maximum attention for preserving the quality of the product, besides the primary trade knowledge. Besides, cooled storage, this also goes for the other services with added value. We aren't focussing on a few large client, we are consciously choosing to spread. There is space in the market with the focus and approach. Our name is getting around quickly and we have gained a considerable client base over the course of the year, both nationally and internationally."

AEO Certificate Ceremony

Van den Bos Freshpartners has 2,500 pallet positions at the new locations, spread out over 21 different cooling cells. They are mostly foreseen of floor heating for a optimal temperature control (-2°C to +20°C) and air humidity. "Due to Van den Bos' roots in the bulb and flower segment, we are also stocking up on products like shrubs, stem roses and amaryllis and we are drying plugs for starting material in the floriculture. We also have in-depth knowledge of specialised products such as ginger, garlic and Argentinian pears. This variety of products and services provide a good spread all year round and fit into our wide approach. "Anyone can bring pallets in and out, but with specific added value in combination with a high level of involvement with our customers we can define ourselves in the field of competition," says Edwin.

Continuous development
A share of office or expedition area can be rented to customers in the Van den Bos Freshpartners location, such as to OTC Holland and Hartman Expeditie. Arava Holland will be making a comeback to Poeldijk in the Van den Bos location after a trip to Bleijswijk. "We are also looking for sustainable relationships in this sense," says Rene. When asked what the biggest challenge for the future is, he replies: "To keep the service high so that we can continue to be distinctive. It is essential that we continue to develop and don't get lazy. Customers have to realise that they matter day to day. We aren't aiming for a doubling in turnover, but want to be big enough that we can offer a full package and quality, but be flexible at the same time"

For more information:
Van den Bos Fresh Partners
ABC Westland 401
2685 DE Poeldijk
T: +31 174 612111
M: +31 6 20132763
rene.tunker@vandenbos.com
www.vandenbosfreshpartners.com