Westmoreland Sales Group, a leading Canadian greenhouse vegetable grower, has signed a two-year contract with IFCO SYSTEMS, the leading global provider of reusable packaging solutions for fresh products. Westmoreland is now shipping Topline brand tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers from its distribution centers in Ontario and Michigan to retailers across North America in IFCO RPCs.
Leamington, ON-based Westmoreland cited IFCO’s history of excellent customer service and commitment to food safety as the main reasons they selected IFCO to be their RPC provider. Also important were IFCO’s proximity to Westmoreland’s facilities, ability to respond quickly, and ability to supply RPCs to service the increasing retail demand for Westmoreland’s product.
“We are working with IFCO to ensure our Topline products arrive to our retail customers in the best possible condition while lowering costs through the supply chain. The IFCO RPC solution also supports Westmoreland’s commitment to the environment by helping to reduce the number of cardboard boxes used.” said Brian W. Blommaert, Chief Executive Officer of Westmoreland Sales Group.
IFCO handles all RPC logistics for Westmoreland, from distribution to cleaning to re-entry into the supply chain. After each retail use, IFCO RPCs are folded, collected and shipped back to one of IFCO’s service facilities, where they are sanitized and prepared for re-use.
“Westmoreland is a great partner, and we are pleased the company is using IFCO RPCs to deliver high quality product to retailers in the US and Canada. We are constantly developing new solutions to address specific opportunities at companies like Westmoreland, and their move to our program is proof that trading partners and consumers benefit from working toward the common goal of greater service and safety,” said Dan Walsh, President of IFCO North America.
Westmoreland Sales Group is a greenhouse vegetable grower based in Leamington, Ontario with offices in Michigan and New Jersey. The company markets tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and specialty vegetables. More information on Westmoreland Sales Group is available at http://www.westmorelandsales.com/.
About IFCO
With more than 200 million Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs) in circulation in 33 countries, IFCO is the leading provider of reusable containers to the fresh food sector worldwide. IFCO handles more than 1 billion RPC transfers each year, transporting the containers to fresh produce growers and other users and collecting them from retail distribution centers. After each use, IFCO RPCs are folded, collected and shipped to one of IFCO’s 49 service facilities, where they are sanitized using the latest food safety processes and prepared for re-use. IFCO launched its first RPCs pool in 1992 and continues to expand into new markets and with new product innovations. IFCO is part of Brambles Limited.
WORLDWIDE RESPONSIBILITY is an IFCO initiative under which the Company continues to assume its social and environmental responsibilities. IFCO supports Food Banks worldwide in their noble effort to provide food to the needy through the provision of reusable containers and by co-financing delivery vehicles. More than 120,000 IFCO RPCs have been donated to date and 40 delivery vehicles are being co-sponsored. IFCO environmental commitment includes minimizingthe impact on the environment through continuous improvement, providing efficient, safe and sustainable solutions in customer supply chains and contributing positively to all communities.
