Euro Pool System: reshaping fresh food chain one tray at a time
Introduction
Most of us are well aware of the three major players in fresh food industry: producers (e.g. Dole), logistics service providers (e.g. US Foods) and supermarkets (e.g. Kroger). However, some often overlooked market participants are key enablers of supply chain and create value in this competitive marketplace.
Euro Pool System (EPS) is Europe’s largest logistics service provider for returnable and reusable packaging managing over 700m movements p.a. [1]. It serves producers, distributors and leading retailers from 45 state-of-the-art service centres and headquarters in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. EPS stands out as an example of creating value by combining differentiated business model with deeply aligned operations.
Business Model
Tradition packaging solutions of fresh food are often a non-core, ‘headache’ operation for retailers:
- Disposable cardboard packages are purchased in bulk and managed by producers and retailers
- Retailer owned pools of plastic trays are often poorly managed and aren’t standardized due to lack of expertise or in-house resources to ensure efficient tray movement and required hygiene standards for fresh food (e.g. fruit & veg, fish, meats)
EPS improves fresh food supply chain by offering an alternative to these packaging methods by efficiently managing logistics chain for own rigid plastic trays, used for packaging, handling, transport as well as in-store displays.
Green foldable tray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eUdovg4OCc
EPS generates revenue by charging retailers for added-value services that in return improves productivity and reduces retailer’s resources required in logistics. New retailers are contracted by references and case studies showing cost savings and improved supply chain performance.
Operating model
Company acts as a logistics partner to retailers and provides solution to non-core aspect of food chain. Its service centers are strategically located near retailer’s major distribution centers (DCs), where company often also manages retailer’s warehousing equipment and waste materials. State-of-the art service centres perform a number of highly automated processes including collection, sorting, cleaning, inspecting and storing crates for next pick-up. This is supported by advanced systems and trained staff responsible for tracking, inventory planning, order fulfilment, invoicing and deposit processing.
Overview of EPS operations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIzZfVECefc#t=127
How it works
The initial user (e.g. producer) in the supply chain orders the trays on ‘My E-web’ portal and pays a deposit to EPS. Producer then picks up trays from nearest service centre to fill it with fresh food before transporting further to retailer’s DC. Once filled trays are handed over, producer re-charges the deposit to next participant in the supply-chain (e.g. delivery provider). When used trays are returned to EPS service centre by retailer, deposit is returned and all trays are swiftly processed before returning to circulation. Each tray has a unique identifier code which enable tracking. In combination with deposit system, system creates accountability and ensures short rotation cycles improving overall efficiency of the chain.
Graphic overview: flow of trays
Power of alignment between business and operating model
EPS strategy of value-add partner to retailers makes it increasingly entrenched in customers’ operations [2]. Company’s business model is supported by streamlined operations which improve efficiency across supply chain and create tangible benefits to customers:
- Improved service and logistics efficiency: 100% availability of clean trays, online order system and automated order picking warehouses due to standardized packaging
- Reduced produce waste: rigid packaging prevents damage to food items
- Reduced container loss: millions of CO2 kg are saved as EPS’ trays are reusable, 100% recyclable and have 10 year life. Cardboard boxes need to be recycled/ disposed each time and traditional plastic trays often get lost or damaged as items are not accounted for
- Improved transportation fleet: foldable trays are compact to transport when empty saving 86% of space compared to standard trays [3]
Company’s large service centre network, investments in technology and unique logistics capability in specialised food chain drive sustainable competitive advantage. Moreover, established relationships with blue-chip retailers and reputation for critical highest hygiene & safety standards further strengthen EPS position in the market. While a number of players have emerged to benefit from shift towards outsourced tray management, smaller local competitors (e.g. Svenska Returnsystem, Transbox) lack regional scale and expertise required by largest supermarket chains [4].
Performance
“Euro Pool System has become a bridge to logistic knowledge. Company has proven experience with automatic order pickers for fresh products.”
Logistic Director of the Eroski-group, Spain
By combining differentiated product and unmatched efficiency in operations, company has experienced rapid growth. Started in 1992 by three cooperative auction organizations in Benelux, company is now present in 13 countries and holds over 40% market share in Europe. Application of trays has expanded from fresh fruit & veg to fish, meat, bakery and various convenience products.
Company reported revenues of $270m in 2013 [5] and is expected to continue strong growth despite weak macro in Europe. As more retailers realize cost and service benefits of outsourcing the food handling process, EPS is well positioned for growth due to its latest Integrated Service Centre Concept for end-to-end management of retailer’s supply chain [6].
Sources:
[1] http://www.europoolsystem.com/en/About-us/Facts-and-figures
[2] http://www.europoolsystem.com/UploadBestanden/Strategy-I.pdf
[3] http://www.europoolsystem.com/UploadBestanden/12-2012-Article-in-European-Business-Journal.pdf
[4] http://www.cimcorp.fi/Article/The_plastic_crate_is_going_strong
[5] http://www.lpr.eu/Nieuws/Toon/228
[6] http://www.europoolsystem.com/UploadBestanden/Euro-Pool-System-Leaflet-Integrated-service-centre-UK.pdf
Fascinating look behind the scenes at the logistics in the grocery industry! Great example of how a third party was able to solve a problem and monetize it when the other participants had not been motivated to find a solution. I love how the trays fold flat to save space when en route back to the center. The concept of moving the deposit around was also a very interesting part of the business model to encourage collaboration and ownership by every participant. Is this service limited to Europe or are there similar concepts in the US as well? My hunch would be that this is of even greater value to the large format stores which are popular in the US, versus the smaller corner stores that seem to be more prevalent in Europe. It would seem that small stores are less equipped to deal with the storage of these large crates.
Thanks Meghan! This business model was so great, they rejected a competitive offer from a private equity buyer that was attracted by their growth, margins and defensibly of the concept.. I’m not overly familiar with US market but believe cardboard boxes are more prevalent over here and plastic trays aren’t as penetrated as they are in Europe (for instance, http://www.smurfitkappa.com/vHome/us/Products/Pages/Fruit_A_vegetables.aspx).
Agree this mostly makes sense for chains as you need volume to justify investment (think Tesco in UK, Carrefour in France). US is a market with great potential in that sense, especially in more populated areas. Corner shops are indeed common in Europe but they mom&pop shops typically source their products at cash & carry stores (think of it was warehouse for small business owners pick up products themselves). You’re absolutely right that they couldn’t feasibly manage handling the trays. I could see, however, smaller regional chains pooling their logistics to benefit from scale and improve efficiency with EPS. The proposition is rather compelling!