Leading international fresh produce company Univeg is pushing forward a major programme of modernisation across its European distribution network, a move which it says will ensure it remains at the frontline of fruit and vegetable category management and supply.
Prompted by a recent strategic review concluded in late 2011, which has already seen the group shift its focus partly away from production by inviting outside entities to invest in existing and future projects, Univeg is aiming to update a number of its handling and packing centres across Europe by 2015.
Francis Kint, chief executive of Univeg's fresh produce division, told Eurofruit the company would roll out its modernisation programme this year and also confirmed plans to open a state-of-the-art new service centre in Duisburg, western Germany.
The facility, for which planning permission has now been granted, will handle imported fruit including bananas and exotics, as well as managing quality assurance, storage and packing.
In terms of what this means for Univeg's continued growth, it's clear the new Duisburg distribution centre will bring new opportunities to expand in Germany and other parts of Europe.
'In the service and distribution companies we realise that we need ot be state of the art, both when it comes to ripe and ready-to-eat products, and when it comes to packaging,' Kint told Eurofruit.
'We also know that with the increased demand for private label packaging, we need a state-of-the-art infrastructure,' he added.
'As part of our strategic review we just had a look and we realised need to go faster. We have about 25 DCs in Europe and in two or three years time we need to have all of these state of the art.'
Infrastructure
Last year, Univeg's Katopé France division applied the finishing touches to a new operations centre at Rungis International Market near Paris.
The 7,000m2 centre boasts the latest energy-saving technology and includes a warehouse area, ripening store, packing station, quality monitoring laboratory.
During the spring of 2012, the group plans to inaugurate its new large-scale distribution centre in Duisburg.
The centre will be almost twice the size of the Rungis facility at 13,300m², with a strong focus on ripening bananas and exotics.
'The produce industry does not tolerate mediocrity,' continued Kint. 'In order to fulfill our customer’s requirements we need a high-performing infrastructure in which the best people of the fruit and vegetable industry are proud to work.'
He added: 'By combining our state-of-the art service network with our caring and committed approach, we can offer customers new opportunities for product and service differentiation and drive a more sustainable future for generations to come.'
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