Willem Nowee of Varekamp Coldstores:
"Our mission to operate as a fullservice provider in fresh logistics"




After a steady growth and internationalization of its customer base Varekamp Cold Stores Ltd introduced its new company name and image at the beginning of the year. The business - established in 1953 by Ben Varekamp as a cooling house for Westland grapes - has become a logistics service provider of format. "We are a completely independent business unit within the Van Rijn Group," says commercial director Willem Nowee. "At the moment we are receiving our growth from international clients, who already form 50% of our our customer base."


Willem Nowee

In 2001 Varekamp Coldstores moved to ABC Westland where it started the full service package for its customers in 2005. "In short the customer determines the services which he wants from the arrival in the port up until the distribution on behalf of the customer in Europe", Willem explains.



"We don't do the commerce for the client, but organise all the logistics, storage and handling, settlement of customs formalities, quality controls and where it's needed, packaging. Sometimes the products are stored here for a few hours, sometimes for a few months! Since April last year, our sister company Rijntrans Ltd has provided the container transport from the ports."



Thanks to the expansion in 2009 Varekamp Cold Stores now has access to 11,000 m2 of business space. "In the 26 cooling cells - with a total of 7000 pallet positions - we have individual settings for temperature (between -3 and +20 ºC), circulation, ventilation and humidity control," says Willem.



"With 18 docks and a conditioned expedition area of 2500 m2 we can unload, cross dock and reload quickly. Furthermore we have a dry cabin, wall suction, floor heating in a part of our cooling cells and since last year we have a separate compartment for additional sorting."


Dry cabin

"I am delighted with the arrival of our neighbour Joosen  Pakstation BV. So we can store all products and pack them under one roof. Using drive through cells the product always stay cooled", says Willem. "We have also expanded our range in recent years. We don't provide only the cooling of fresh produce products, but also bulbs and even ready-made meals."



"We distinguish ourselves by offering transparent information. Not a box in the cool cells belongs to us, so we treat them very carefully. Immediately after receiving or handling of orders, clients receive the reports automatically. They immediately know what time the products have been received or handled by Varekamp.", says the commercial director.



"Our customers orders are always 100% traceable", Willem guarantees. "At arrival we always register the unique pallet numbers and any bar codes belonging to our clients or their suppliers. The customer can see these unique pallet numbers again on the receiving and handling reports. In our sheds we work exclusively with bar codes. This is to do with discretion. During the operation the clients orders are anonymous and our staff scan every movement of the pallet with mobile hand-held terminals.



Varekamp Coldstores are BRC- and IFS certified to a high level. Furthermore the Skal certificate has enabled the growing amount of storage of organic products. Nowee looks towards the future of Varekamp Coldstores with confidence. "We have a good service package, good facilities and our automation and information facilities are at a excellent level. With a great team Varekamp Coldstores is continuing the path. We leave the marketing of the products to out clients, but our sophisticated logistics contribute to our clients market performance. And the latter is important, because that determines our success!"

Contact:
Willem Nowee
Varekamp Coldstores
ABC Westland 444
2685 DE Poeldijk
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0) 0174 272 309
Fax: +31 (0) 0174 418 577
www.varekampcoldstores.com

Publication date: 5/31/2010
Author: Nichola Watson
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

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