Kloosterboer Cool Port officially opened

Kloosterboer Cool Port in Rotterdam was officially opened on Thursday, 20 September. About 500 guests were present at the opening of the new cold and freezer storage centre. It is on the premises previously occupied by the ECT Home terminal. Kloosterboer expects to process a minimum of 400 000 pallets per year here. The state-of-the-art building has the storage capacity for 40 000 pallets, of which 10 000 pallets are suitable for frozen storage and the remaining 30 000 pallets for cold storage. On the ground floor there is an 7 500 square metre dispatching area, with 38 dock shelters. On the first floor, there is a packaging and re-packaging area, specifically suited to fruit and vegetables. Included is a professional grape and blueberries packaging line, where the latest laser branding technology is being used on the products.

Click here for the photo report

Even though the realisation of Kloosterboer Cool Port has been a long time coming - the first plans were drawn up ten years ago - Jack Kloosterboer is a satisfied man. "It turned out exactly as we planned." Kloosterboer's CEO Jaco Hooij, is very proud of this new Flagship Store on a triple A-location in Rotterdam. "We are proud of the design and the possibilities the building offers. Due to the prime location, the need for transportation will be kept to a minimum. Empty pallets can be inspected in the direct vicinity of Cool Port. This means the same containers can be sent to the Maasvlakte. We expect to reach our full capacity here by the end of next year. With a 7 hectare piece of bare land adjacent to us, there is ample expansion possibilities for Cool Port II." In answer to the chairman, the CEO admitted that the processing of bananas is still on Rotterdam's wishlist.

Panelgesprek met Michel Jansen (Total Produce), Floor Vermeulen (Provincie Zuid-Holland, Danny Levenswaard (Havenbedrijf Rotterdam) en Jaco Hooij (Kloosterboer)

Michel Jansen of Total Produce, who has also moved into the building, also called it a milestone. "We, along with many other parties, worked on this project for years. There were times when it was almost at a standstill, which makes this a momentous occasion." It was a big step for Total Produce to stop doing its own logistics and outsource to an external service provider. "But doing business means sometimes taking risks. Thanks to these in-house packaging possibilities, we can provide a value-added service to our customers. This was not possible at our previous premises. In addition, this location means we can make use of multiple modes of transport - water, rail and road. This is still frowned upon in our sector, but I am convinced that it will become a reality in a few years time. Then we will find ourselves in the perfect location."

Team Schrijvershof

After Jaap Smit, the South Holland Royal Commissioner, did the official opening and illusionist, Victor Mids, gave a matchless performance, the many guests took a tour around the premises and stayed for a good long time.

Click here for the photo report