For 40 years now, Hubert Vortkamp Ltd has been involved in the transport of temperature-sensitive products, including fruit and vegetables. The company, which has locations in Ahaus and Billerbeck, has gradually expanded its range of services over the years, as Andreas Vortkamp, who is the second generation to run the company, tells us in an interview. Despite numerous challenges, the medium-sized forwarder is looking ahead with confidence.
About 20-25 percent of Vortkamp's business is fruit and vegetables, and the trend is downward. "Nowadays, the trade has very rigorous regulations, such as tight time windows of one to two hours, which are simply not feasible in view of the increasing distance. Unfortunately, there is an increasing lack of understanding. Furthermore, we are confronted with particularly difficult framework conditions, especially personnel resources," Vortkamp said.
'Regionally adaptable'
"The driver shortage was more extreme a few years ago. We try to eliminate this problem as best we can, for example by paying fair wages," the specialist forwarder states. "But what is more of a problem for us are the increased, political requirements and the tendency toward poorer general conditions, whether it's the required certifications or the road network, congested traffic situation and toll increases. We have to face all these challenges, and as a medium-sized company we are in direct competition with the large, industrial transport companies."
Andreas Vortkamp is from the second generation managing the company.
The aim is to continue to be 'regionally adaptable' in the coming years. In order to also be able to offer customers additional services, the company also has 1,500 warehouse spaces in which both frozen and fresh products as well as dry goods can be temporarily stored. The location on the German-Dutch border, an important hub in the flow of goods in Western Europe, is an advantage in this regard, he said. "We deal predominantly with outgoing transports, in which we redistribute imported goods throughout the Federal Republic."
A relatively new field of Vortkamp's business is silo transport.
Recovery of the catering industry
Overall, freight forwarding has come through the crisis well, Vortkamp continues. "The gastronomy sector showed some decline during the pandemic, but food retailing increased. Retail was also noticeably overwhelmed by the volumes and urgent measures; as a medium-sized company, we were then able to respond quickly to these requests, thus maintaining our sales." After the crisis, he said, the restaurant industry, an important customer sector for Vortkamp, largely recovered. "The only trend we are seeing quite clearly is that more and more catering suppliers are joining forces. However, that doesn't make much difference to us as a forwarder."
Images: Hubert Vortkamp GmbH
For more information:
Andreas Vortkamp
Hubert Vortkamp GmbH
Zentrale: Harmate 24
48683 Ahaus
Tel. +49 (0) 25 61 - 98 01 - 0
Niederlassung Billerbeck:
Josef-Suwelack-Straße 22
48727 Billerbeck
Tel.: +49 (0) 2543 / 25 188
E-Mail: info@vortkamp-logistik.de
www.vortkamp-logistik.de