Showcasing global innovation

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aug14-packaging-250Coinciding with the company’s 40-year anniversary in the New Zealand supply chain, CHEP showcased new global innovations in fresh produce merchandising at the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Connections conference held in Auckland in June.

The equipment pooler’s workshop on ‘building better supply chains through collaboration and innovation’ featured insights from Brambles stable mate, IFCO Systems’ senior vice president, global business development, Fred Heptinstall, CHEP Australia & New Zealand president Phillip Austin and CHEP New Zealand country manager, Mike O’Brien.

The trio showcased a new in-store merchandising concept for reusable plastic crates (RPCs) pioneered by IFCO North America, and invited feedback from conference delegates.

Mike O’Brien says, “The conference was a great opportunity to showcase our recent pipeline of exciting solutions for an industry with many unique supply chain challenges.”

Delegates visited CHEP’s display booth to preview the new range of Fresh Market Advantage solutions designed to deliver a better customer experience in the retail environment.

Phillip Austin says, “These new solutions build on decades of proven capability, our multiple generations of new product releases – including since the last PMA, the Lift Lock Crate in New Zealand and the Gen 3 Crate in Australia – and our proven ability to deliver better supply chains through lower logistics costs, lower produce damage and improved store replenishment.”

Launched in late 2013, the in-store displays, which are easy to use, clean, ship and store, have been well received by the North American fresh produce industry. Fred Heptinstall says, “IFCO’s RPC merchandising solutions were developed through a collaborative effort between retailers and their fresh suppliers. The objective was to find the right transport packaging solution that would integrate in-store merchandising strategy, deliver superior quality and with the lowest supply chain cost.”

Photo: (Left to right) CHEP New Zealand country manager, Mike O’Brien, CHEP Australia & New Zealand president, Phillip Austin and IFCO Systems’ senior vice president, global business development, Fred Heptinstall.

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