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Can we stay healthy in Venlo and Frugro?


14/05/2020



Yes, we can! That was my first thought when the topic for this edition of nonstopfresh magazine was announced. 

 

Thanks to supreme efforts of my colleagues, we can continue to do our work, albeit in a lightly altered form. During this time of unprecedented disruption, we’ve adopted measures and made alterations to our cash-and-carries, warehouses and offices. We keep a 1.5-metre distance, have installed hand sanitizer stations for our staff and customers, and by closing some entrances, we’ve improved access control and made the warehouses accessible to staff only. That is the way we can stay NONSTOPFRESH!
 

Covid-19 and sick-leave
 

Frans mock up.pngThe Aartsen Venlo and Aartsen St. Katelijne-Waver sites have seen very little sick leave as a result of COVID-19. We observe the necessary measures as much as possible, and everybody is adapting well to the changing environment. Nor do we hesitate to remind customers of the relevant agreements that are in place. 
Even at home, all of us are adhering to the safety guidelines in order to protect our partners, children, family, colleagues and customers.
 

Essential services

During this crisis, the food supply chain is considered an essential service for keeping society running. My responsibilities at both 
sites mean that I shuttle between Venlo and St. Katelijne-Waver quite a lot. Crossing from the Netherlands to Belgium used to be no problem, but now we need an ‘essential services declaration’ and checks are being performed at the border. I sometimes like to spend the night in Mechelen, but that’s hard to organise these days. One hotel is still open, but their café and restaurant are closed. 
All hospitality establishments are shut, so my car’s odometer is getting an extra workout. That is... I mean... nothing beats good-old home cooking, of course...

 

And what do you do on your lonesome in a hotel room anyway? Work a little, write reports, go for lots of walks. Mechelen is a beautiful city, the fifth-largest in Flanders and the second-largest in the province (after Antwerp). 

 

Because of my love for football, my walks have taken me to the Oscar Vankesbeeck stadium of Racing Mechelen, and the AFAS stadium of KV Mechelen. Want to see two incredibly different stadiums in one city? Mechelen is the place to be!
 

COVID-19 and opportunity

Thanks to the coronavirus, consumers are now more motivated to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and have extra time to consider their eating habits. When all this is over, many will continue to consume a healthier diet, which offers opportunities for the industry. We have already seen a steep rise in sales of garlic and ginger. 

Customers who used to supply hospitality and catering businesses are now looking to supplement their income in other ways, such as food delivery services, or by making and delivering fruit and vegetable boxes. We now use the electronic superhighway 
to communicate with some of our clients who used to visit the site in person. This, too, offers scope for future initiatives.

 

Administration

Much of my current work is devoted to optimising the various departments in Frugro. We need to ensure that all vacancies are filled, and that everyone is in the right job. It is also important for us to find and implement strategies for improvement. Because there are so many different facets involved, it’s a good opportunity for us to re-examine everything and introduce changes. We’ve got a great team, and we want to set the bar high at Aartsen. We’re on the right track, but there’s still work to be done.

 

Now that I show my face less often in Venlo, I’m grateful I have other colleagues who can pick up the slack and lend a helping hand. It makes me happy, and it takes a load off my shoulders. We recently renovated the warehouse and offices in Venlo, and our challenge now is to continue the growth trend from the previous years. I’m proud to be leading such a fantastic group of people.

 

How do things differ between Aartsen Venlo and Aartsen Frugro?

All daily and weekly markets are currently closed in Belgium, while those in the Netherlands and Germany are open. That’s the only difference. Fresh produce stores are still open everywhere. We’ve done all we can to keep our cash-and-carries open, precisely to help keep the markets and stores stocked up. Frugro customers are earlier risers than those in Venlo, which means my Belgian colleagues need to start work a bit earlier. But that has always been the case. 

 

Both Aartsen Venlo and Aartsen Frugro are also situated on the auction grounds, which helps to keep attracting customers even during COVID-19.

 

Covid-19 at home

COVID-19 also affects our home lives, of course: no visiting friends, no receiving guests. My wife Caroline is from Northern Ireland and has already had to cancel two family trips due to the lack of flights. Being unable to support her family and her ailing mother is a real trial right now. 

 

I’d booked a flight to visit our son in Hong Kong, where I had also planned to run a 10 km footrace. Both my trip and the race were cancelled. But better times will come when we can all catch up on what we’ve missed. You can bet that’s what we’ll be doing! 

People are exploring new ways to entertain themselves at the moment. During our walks, we discovered a private beach on the Waal in Nijmegen, where we spent a few very pleasant days. It looks like even in this hectic world, it’s possible to find some peace and tranquillity close to home, where finding 1.5 metres’ distance is no problem at all...
 

So from Venlo and Frugro: 
Stay healthy, stay nonstopfresh!

 

Column - Frans Jongerius is site manager for Aartsen Venlo and Aartsen St. Katelijne-Waver (Frugro)