The Results Are In: Growers that Partner with CHEP and IFCO Increase Efficiency, Reduce Costs and Generate Impressive Sustainability Returns

• CHEP and IFCO collaborative “fresh” supply chain solutions highlighted at Viva Fresh 2018.
• Leading growers Melon 1, Tanimura & Antle, Pure Flavor, Grimmway Farms, Wholesum Harvest benefit from innovative supply chain solutions.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – April 6, 2018 – The fresh food sector is experiencing phenomenal growth that requires a continuous pipeline of innovative supply chain solutions to ensure timely, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable delivery of fresh products year-round. CHEP, a leading supply chain solutions provider, and IFCO, the leading supplier of reusable fresh food packaging, are showcasing their fresh supply chain efficiency, sustainability solutions, and grower success stories at Viva Fresh 2018.

“We are committed to providing growers with the products and solutions they need to provide their customers and consumers with year-round access to high quality, nutritious and affordable fresh food,” said Rick Overholt, Director of Sales, Produce, for CHEP. “Our platforms, containers and supply chain solutions, combined with our expertise and global network advantage, form a winning combination that helps growers meet their marketplace and social responsibility goals.”

“No one understands the supply chain needs of growers better than IFCO and CHEP, and we know from experience the best solutions are achieved through partnership and collaboration with growers and the entire fresh food supply chain. That is what separates us from our competitors,” concluded Craig Kelly, Vice President, Grower Sales, IFCO.

Over the last 24 months, CHEP and IFCO partnered with North American growers to develop innovative supply chain solutions. Success stories include:

• Tanimura & Antle: CHEP and IFCO eliminated more than 5 million pounds of carbon emissions, saved nearly 92 million gallons of water, eliminated over 4 million pounds of food waste, eliminated the solid waste produced by more than 3,000 homes annually and saved enough energy to power over 32,000 homes for one year.
• Melon 1: Increased efficiency and sustainability with CHEP’s pallet storage program and through its conversion to CHEP shared (pooled) pallets for international shipments. In addition, since 2009, as the result of Melon 1’s share and reuse of CHEP pooled (shared) pallets, the company has reduced nearly 1.3 million pounds of carbon emissions and kept nearly 1.7 million pounds of solid waste out of landfills.

• Pure Flavor: Partnered with IFCO to ensure on-time delivery of its fresh produce during peak harvest seasons, maximize operational efficiency, and reduce costs through the using IFCO Reusable Plastic Containers. IFCO and Pure Flavor developed a forecasting model to track the company’s produce orders and growing seasons, ensuring on-time delivery of the right number and type of RPCs throughout the year. In addition, some RPCs are stored on-site, providing the Pure Flavor® operations group with greater flexibility to manage its product flow. IFCO now provides Pure Flavor® with over one million RPCs annually.
• Grimmway Farms: Partnered with CHEP to eliminate more than 1.63 million pounds of solid waste and more than 1.23 million pounds of CO₂e from its supply chain. CHEP also identified process improvements to reduce pallet damage, reduce costs and further improve sustainability.
• Wholesum Harvest: Converted to CHEP shared (pooled) pallets, which helped the company generate improved sustainability returns and meet its social responsibility goals, helping to provide 30,000 Mexican families with sustainable plancha wood stoves.

CHEP and IFCO are committed to achieving a circular economy that generates zero emissions and zero waste. Their parent company, Brambles, detailed its environmental stewardship progress in its 2017 Sustainability Review, including the progress it has made in meeting its 2020 sustainability goals.