The Greenery lorries

Netherlands-based The Greenery has announced plans to transfer its activities from the Maasland distribution centre to the Bleiswijk distribution centre and other sites in order to shorten the supply chain as much as possible.

The move is expected to be completed by the end of 2011 at the latest, and will ultimately result in the closure of the Maasland site.

This decision follows a number of earlier manoeuvres to improve efficiency in the supply chain, including increasing the number of direct links between growers and customers, optimising internal transport and logistic processes and increasing the mechanisation of packaging activities.

'The internal improvements programme ‘Smarter and Better’ is delivering technical improvements and greater efficiency in terms of supply chain management, which means that larger volumes can be processed at a particular site,' The Greenery explained in a press release.

'By creating further economies of scale at grower companies and grower sites, a greater number of direct links between growers and retailers are achieved,' the company further stated. 'Furthermore, transferring and integrating these activities will enable The Greenery to fine-tune its logistical operations in response to changing client and consumer demands, which are focused on shorter fresh food supply chains.'