AI Magazine Issue 3 2017

40 Acquisition International - March 2017 AGRO Merchants Group, recent recipient of the Cold Chain Excellence award, was established in 2013 as a network of mostly family businesses providing leading-edge cold chain solutions for perishable goods on a global basis. ince 2013, AGRO has expanded to ten countries around Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The company currently operates 60 facilities. Thanks to their rapid growth and geographic spread the company is now one of the top global providers of 3rd party cold storage and logistics solutions. “We invest in modern assets, industry-leading technologies and value-added service offerings to ensure the highest quality supply chain management standards in the industry.” says Jan Harthoorn, Vice-President Strategic Development Europe at AGRO Merchants Group. Global solutions In addition to refrigerated storage and logistics, the group provides additional integrated value-added services in each of its branches. Flexible services such as packaging, import/export management, QC inspections, customs services and transport are part of the deal for the Group’s customers. “Our customers benefit from a flexible range of integrated services and point-to-point solutions across the globe, and all under one roof. Our company mainly consists of family businesses, which have been operating locally for generations. They have a lot of expertise and they know the local market very well.” says Harthoorn. Company: AGRO Merchants Group Name: Jan Harthoorn Email: [email protected] Web: www.agromerchants.com Address: Nijverheidsweg 64 3771ME Barneveld The Netherlands Phone: +44 7823 353 041 Cool Solutions S 1703AI93 Ambitious expansion plans The end of year 2016 marked the entrance of AGRO into a new global region – Asia Pacific. The company added Doboy Cold Stores in Brisbane, one of the most successful cold storage and logistics companies in Australia, to their network. The company has aggressive global market expansion plans for 2017 as well. “We are planning to enter two new countries in the first half of the year.” Harthoorn shared. Customers first “Working closely with our customers enables us to have a proper insight into their market position and potential gaps in operations and/or services that AGRO can fill to deliver the service they need to be a market leader in their business and industry.” The group works very closely with food processors, traders, food service and retailers. From single services to end-to-end solutions, AGRO can customise solutions to fit into their clients’ operations. Addressing industry trends Outsourcing of non-core activities such as seasonal packaging services or freezing/tempering services has been a trend for the past few years. Also, programmes that are non-standard are being handed over to 3rd party service providers such as AGRO Merchants Group. The cold storage and logistics industry is very fragmented and due to the trend of globalisation, food processors, traders, food service and retailers require a strong global logistics partner. AGRO addresses this need by leading a dialogue with their clients and investing into strategic locations, which help them to support their existing and potential customer base in their growth strategies. When AGRO sees an opportunity emerging, they leverage their market intelligence to help their customers succeed. Sustainability Another important trend in the logistics industry is the increasing emphasis on sustainability. CO2 emissions, energy-saving, loss prevention are areas in particular, where effective cold chain solutions can make a huge difference. AGRO Merchants Group is one of the largest networks of cold storage and logistics companies worldwide. As a global organisation, they have a great impact and sustainable solutions are an essential part of their business strategy.