News VSL SiloLogistics
MoreNews Business Environment
MoreFeedback Customers & Relations, Sharing Best Practices
More
Category: Feedback Customers & Relations, Sharing Best Practices
Cargill's 'division' in Hoogerheide.
What is driving VSL SiloLogistics customers and how do they perceive the cooperation with VSL? What is going well, what can be improved and what will be the key issue in coming years? This news letter gives the thoughts of Mart Snoek, Cargill-man to the bone, on these issues.
Cargill is active in the Netherlands since 1959. The company has a payroll of some 2,300 at locations in Amstelveen, Amsterdam, Bergen op Zoom, Denekamp, Deventer, Nistelrode, Rotterdam (Botlek), Sas van Gent, Schiedam, Swalmen, Wormer, and Zaandam. Cargill B.V. started as a goods trading organization. Today, its core business is the production of food ingredients and the processing and trading of agricultural products. Cargill B.V. is one of the top-20 largest enterprises in the Netherlands.
For 28 years now, Mart Snoek handles the commercial aspects of Cargill operations. Via Amsterdam and Bergen op Zoom, he came to Mechelen, Belgium, where his current position is Protein Sales Manager of the Business Unit Sweeteners & Starches Europe. Since 1994, he shapes Cargill policy in its cooperation with VSL. 'Cargill-VSL is a fine example of a genuine partnership', says Mart. 'VSL is an extension of our company, an integral part of our chain; even our IT systems are linked. 'Hoogerheide' feels like a Cargill division. Our audits for instance always include Hoogerheide.'
The VSL cooperation concerns the Bergen-op-Zoom and Sas-van-Gent Cargill factories. In these refineries glucose is extracted from wheat and supplied to the food industry. The refining process also generates wheat gluten. 'Wheat gluten are a byproduct, and a very important byproduct too, because many bakeries use it. Wheat gluten are also used in the pet food and aqua-feed industry as a high-grade protein source. Customers for wheat gluten are found in Europe and beyond, including the US, South America and the Middle and Far East. All overseas customers take delivery of the product bagged in containers.'
The wheat gluten bagging, packing and transporting operation is based in Hoogerheide for decades already. 'VSL and its legal predecessors provided this service between 1988 until last year on a dedicated basis. Our requirements increased. Changes in packaging types, special pallets, metal detection, specific shipping procedures, stricter hygiene standards, and company specific labeling and customs documentation requirements. Developments continue, definitely around food safety, but this is not a problem for VSL Site Manager Piet Nogarede and his team.'
'They are different because they don't think in terms of the problem but always in terms of the solution. There appears to be no end to their creativity and flexibility each time we or our customers raise complex questions. No matter how crazy, they handle it. And they don't relax their focus either, not even after such a long time. This is what I think, and so does Esther Gijssel, European Supply Planner Wheat Gluten, who coordinates planning with VSL staff every day and Pieter van der Horst, Wheat Gluten Technical Service Manager, who is responsible for the operational side of the cooperation. A feather in Piet's cap!'
'Obviously where people work, errors and mistakes are made; also at VSL. Error frequency is low however, and we always manage to work things out. Still, Cargill's business is selling wheat gluten packed and transported by VSL, so it is our reputation on the line every time. Quality and food safety are top priority with the bar being raised all the time, especially in the food industry. In recent years, ‘Europe' is placing logistic services providers under extra scrutiny. So, no matter how well they are doing now, VSL will need to stay alert!'
October 2010