Europe Retail Packing (ERP) has long been considered the largest supplier of fresh cut herbs. Israel was once its main supplier, but today most of ERP's herbs come from Kenya and Spain. To be able to properly meet its retail programmes in the summer, the company launched its own production in the Netherlands on an area of 15,000 m2, where it also grows many rare varieties. The herbs are delivered to its customers both under their private labels and under the firm's new own brand '5Senses'. "With our herb cultivation in the Netherlands, we are also able to respond to the growing demand from retailers for local production," affirms Menno Reijgersberg.
5Senses
Where ERP's trading and packaging activities sometimes clashed with one another, this year the director has introduced a separation between the two activities. "There is synergy, of course, but the two activities operate with separate teams. We are also focusing our business on five products: herbs, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, peppers and aubergines from our own harvest. We aim to achieve growth with these products and become the best in the Netherlands," states Menno.
Christmas boxes
A side activity in which ERP has also made a considerable investment is the preparation of Christmas boxes. For three years, the company has been offering such packs to businesses, often featuring a combination of both fresh and long shelf life products. "In Christmas 2016, we'll go full steam ahead with this once again. Every year, we manage to offer an original twist and increasingly more (fruit and vegetable) companies are placing their trust in us for their Christmas boxes," explains Menno enthusiastically. In addition to Christmas gift boxes, ERP supplies fruit boxes all year round via www.fruit.nl, which can be delivered weekly, biweekly, or monthly to both consumers and businesses.
Ultimately, ERP relies on the proper internal training of its employees. Menno himself set a good example with a university management course at Wageningen University and draws that line throughout the entire company. "We want to further professionalise in the coming years and to that end we are devoting a good share of our budget to training. We are ready for the future," concludes Menno.
For more information:
Europe Retail Packing
ABC Westland 451
2685 DE Poeldijk
The Netherlands
Tel: 0174 – 282 510
[email protected]
www.europeretailpacking.nl
Photos: Jan-Willem de Jongste
Tel: 0174 – 282 510
[email protected]
www.europeretailpacking.nl
Photos: Jan-Willem de Jongste
