Euro Gijbels invest in special purchase-app for Carrefour-clients

Importer, exporter and wholesaler Euro-Gijbels have been active for generations in Geel in Belgium. The company finds it of great importance to anticipate innovations and the demand of the market. This is clear from the recently introduced application with the clients. "Our clients are mainly franchisees of Carrefour. During the past year we have invested large amounts in the area of automation. Our clients can with a specially designed app. place their order with their ipad. The reactions are very enthusiastic and this offers perspectives for us, because demand now also comes from other directions of Carrefour," operational director Gunther Aerts tells.

Using iPad in the shop

"The system works in a very simple way for a buyer of fruit and vegetables. Important information, such as stock, history, assortment has all been stored in the app. Also via the application it is visible in what way the department has been organised and in what way with a few clicks an order can be placed in real time" he explains. Also for the buying department of Euro-Gijbels itself a similar system has been developed. "With this our own buyers can buy their purchases via an ipad at the auction house."

Use of iPad with buying system

Export Far East

Together with local activities the focus of the company is to supply the Carrefour franchisees, Euro-Gijbels is also active in the Far East, such as in Qatar. "This we have been doing already for three years. I think we are the only Belgian fruit and vegetable company exporting to the Gulf states. Some time ago we looked for partners, who possibly wanted to export cooled products, but there was no interest for that. We are rather selectively involved in these countries, we are not price knockers, but our emphasis is on service and quality. This we do intentionally and it is our strategy also. We have a few large customers, among which supermarkets and wholesalers. Our clients enjoy offering European food and we have special departments inside supermarkets there. It started 'by accident', but it runs very well."

A vegetable department in a supermarket in Qatar. The products have been supplied by Euro- Gijbels

Cooperation Philippines

Possibly there will be trading between Euro-Gijbels and Philippine suppliers. "Last week Philippine business partners visited us in order to research the possibilities of cooperation in Europe. The first contacts have been made and in September we will visit the Philippines ourselves. Looking at it now there are opportunities for import and export for both sides. Up to now it looks very promising," I can say. "At the moment we are interested in bananas, mangoes and other exotics. It could well be of interest to us to import these from the Philippines ourselves."

Philippian business partners visiting Euro-Gijbels

Euro-Gijbels import these days from various countries worldwide. "We also have 60 HA in Spain, where vegetables are grown from November to April. These are products destined for cutting companies and IQF. Every year a new arrangement is made about which vegetables will be grown."

For more information:
Gunther Aerts
Euro Gijbels NV
21, Acaciastraat
2440 Geel - Belgium
T: +32(0)14 86 61 01
F: +32(0)14 86 62 40
E: [email protected]
I: www.eurogijbels.be