Versland Selection has expanded considerably over the years at its location at ABC Westland in Poeldijk, The Netherlands. The greengrocer has been located at this location since 2000, but after extensions in 2010 and 2015 respectively, the building was expanded by half and after a thorough renovation made into a whole. But it didn't stop there, because last year the company invested in three new cold stores, each with space for 300 pallets, a packaging shed and two new vacuum coolers.
Vacuum coolers for the Versland building
"With these investments, we have taken steps to optimally unburden our customers and to offer a complete range of daily fresh vegetables all year round to exporters, wholesalers and the processing industry," says director Ed Koelewijn during a tour of the building.
In terms of sales, Versland makes clear choices, so it only delivers to customers in the Benelux. There is also a clear focus in the product area. Because where many companies in the Westland have a total fruit and vegetable assortment or at least have cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers at the top of the product list, it is Versland's leaf crops and radish that feeds the most part.
Packaging materials in the attic
"Peppers, cauliflower, bok choy, radicchio, arugula, fennel, lamb's lettuce, red chicory. For many companies they are very small items, but we are big in these small products. We also offer cucumbers and tomatoes, but they represent only a few small part of the turnover.
Many exporters therefore come to us to meet the demand for these product groups. Many Dutch and Belgian processing companies are also our customers. Whole heads of lettuce are not consumed that much anymore, but the share that is sold is very large," says Ed.
Radish processing
Since the former radish rinsing plant of The Greenery was merged with the Versland rinsing plant, and the The Greenery growers were also included in the Versland family, the company has even become the market leader in this segment. In total there are 10 growers with bunch and loose radish affiliated with Versland.
"We take care of sales for a growing group of growers and growers associations. In addition to a large group of Dutch growers, we also work with growers from France, Spain, Italy and Greece to provide our customers with a year-round assortment," says Ed. A number of growers grow organic, PlanetProof has already become a condition for many processing plants.
With the three new cold stores, the new building now has 9 cold stores, each with 300 pallet places. In a new packaging hall, the packaging is neatly grouped and an attic has been set up for the packaging materials. Two new vacuum coolers were installed last month. "In twelve minutes we cool the products down to 3 degrees. That way, all the product enters the cold store cold at the same time. This considerably extends the shelf life of the product. to get them to the customer at the right temperature," says Ed.
Two vacuum coolers
"These coolers require a substantial investment, if only due to the energy consumption alone, but we have something that someone else does not have. We always had one cooler with a capacity for 6 pallets, but with two vacuum coolers, both with a capacity of 8. We have considerably increased the turnover rate on pallets."
Container warehouse
For more information:
Versland Selection
ABC Westland 641
2685 DH Poeldijk
The Netherlands
T: +31(0) 174 287715
info@versland.com
www.versland.com