Group wins Dutch Logistics Prize 2005

Award for superior quality assurance

For the VanDrie Group, its victory in the Dutch Logistics Prize for 2005 is an acknowledgement of the success of its corporate culture, which prioritises quality assurance and food safety. Corporate Affairs Director, Henny Swinkels, was presented with the award by the Logistics Management Association (vLm in Dutch) on November 3th in Baarn. On receiving the prize, Swinkels spoke of his pride and how he considered the award to be an acknowledgment of the way in which VanDrie and its Safety Guard tracking and tracing system lead the way in terms of quality assurance in the veal sector. "Not only are we the world's biggest veal producers, we also aim to be trendsetters. In doing so, we constantly strive to achieve the right balance between the three Ps and the A of People, Plants, Profit and Animals.

Logistical innovation

Each year the Logistics Management Association rewards exceptional performance in logistics. In 2005 the VanDrie Group was awarded the silver figurine and certificate in the Dutch town of Mijdrecht. The award was in recognition of the company's Safety Guard system which involves the issuing of quality guarantees right across the chain. The jury highlighted the system as a clearly innovative project executed with demonstrable success and as a shining example to other companies.

With the award, vLm aims to encourage innovation and increased professionalism in Dutch logistics.

The jury was chaired by Prof. Arno de Schepper and also included Henk van Amstel, Ben Radstaak, Prof. Walther Ploos van Amstel and Prof. Jos Vermunt.

Identification code

Safety Guard is the VanDrie Group's food safety programme. Its backbone is a tracking and tracing system whereby each calf is issued with a unique identification number as soon as it is born. The number is used to link together all the data collected in the various stages of the production process. This means that the animal, and ultimately the veal, are traceable at all times. The information gathered by Safety Guard is used as the basis for the logistics system and results in reduced costs and increased profit margins. The chain logistics employed by the VanDrie Group have enabled the company to strengthen its competitive position international.

Family company

The VanDrie Group is a family company specialising in veal production. The entire process begins with the purchase of calves, through the production of calf milk powder and the rearing of the calves right through to the slaughter, cutting and sale of the veal.

The production of milk, butter and cheese in the Netherlands is inextricably linked with veal production. For a cow to continue to produce milk, it needs to calve every year and only some of its offspring are reared as dairy cattle. The other calves form the basis for veal production.