Global hub for vegetable seed

In all steps from planning, testing, processing to packaging: Our new Global Operations Hub for fruiting vegetable seeds aims to optimize supply chains and make our seed available reliably, sustainably and cost-effectively in compliance with defined quality standards – partly by integrating into existing processes at Pop Vriend, but also by establishing new processes.

The global hub will be fully operational in Andijk this spring. The objective is for all fruiting crop vegetable seeds from around the world to be sent first to Andijk, where it is to be processed, tested, packed and logistically managed. Developing and implementing this process chain is the task of Cora Verboom, who has been Supply Team Manager for Fruiting Crops for just over a year, contributing her fruiting crop seed experience from three different vegetable seed companies.

New processes, different mindset

“We’re like a start-up in a company steeped in tradition,” she says. “Establishing the complete process from receiving to delivery to the customer is an exciting challenge. Several processes are new, so another mindset is required as speed to market is very important where we have to comply with high quality standards. What makes it even more complicated is the number of different technologies which can be used to realize this quality. We have to learn which technologies are effective for which seed.”

The Global Operations Hub at our Andijk location will be developed step by step for our five fruiting crops: tomatoes, watermelons, melons, cucumbers and peppers. Many departments are involved because many dependencies need to be managed. Colleagues from Planning, Warehouse, Quality Lab, Customer Services, the Supply team and IT have been working hard together to make it happen.

In the middle of Seed Valley

Andijk is ideal for the Global Operations Hub: Pop Vriend already has highly motivated employees, there is space for the required premises and an ideal infrastructure in the region. Andijk is located in the heart of Seed Valley in the Northwest of Holland, the leading international center for vegetable seed. Innovative companies are working there to develop varieties for all internationally relevant markets that deliver high yields, are resistant to diseases – and taste good. Next to several other seed companies, most seed-related supporting companies are also located there, including equipment, machines, knowledge, upgrading, etc.

Frank Hollenberg, who is manager of the Andijk site and has been working on the project with Cora and the rest of the team, adds that the project is making rapid progress: “We had our processing plants up and running within a year,” he says. The team in Andijk is already testing the quality of the seed. The master data is currently being entered in the enterprise resource planning system. A new Quality Management System has been implemented. “And we’ve produced the first packages in the KWS design.” They hold an average of 1,000 seeds per packaging unit.

Now the employees are due to receive training in the new supply chain management system for all the different varieties. “It’s important for us to react quickly and be flexible. We aim to be able to make monthly decisions, enabling us to create new productions at any time. Therefore we need an efficient and smoothly running process, adds Cora Verboom. |