IFCO has signed an agreement with UK's food retailer The Co-operative Group to provide returnable plastic container (RPC) services for suppliers of fresh produce.
As per the deal, IFCO will begin supplying RPCs to fresh produce suppliers of The Co-operative Group in support of the group's True North strategy.
IFCO CEO Wolfgang Orgeldinger said, "Our global infrastructure will enable greater efficiencies through standardisation of all fresh
produce packaging, including imported products."
Green Plus RPCs use is said to allow The Co-operative Group and its fresh produce suppliers to alleviate the issues faced on inbound products that are offered in cardboard boxes.
The issues include collapsing due to moisture and other box damage, along with inefficiency due to lack of standardization in box sizes and food waste of about 2%, noted IFCO.
The Co-operative Group primary logistics head Paul Bennell said, "The switch from company-owned nestable crates for fresh produce suppliers to IFCO's managed, foldable crate solution was made in support of our strategy to focus on customers, provide simpler processes for stores and streamline end to end logistics."