In a world beset by uncertainty over cost, quality and supply of commodities from petrol to food, the reassuring presence of Unifresh stands like a rock.

“The customer gets supplied within specification,” says Hannes Martin, Managing Director “And we guarantee price, quality and contingency”

It’s a three pillar promise and one to which Hannes returns like a mantra. His business, based on ensuring a year round supply of grape along with citrus fruits and apples, is aimed directly at the foodservice sector only, covering catering and processing.

Unifresh Food Services Ltd does not entertain loyalty towards either supermarkets or the wholesale markets. “By providing a fixed price business model for suppliers, Unifresh not only provide additional security in terms of contractual volume over a season, but we also create expectations with our suppliers. To supply wholesale markets alongside our fixed price foodservice sectors muddles the price expectation towards suppliers because of market volatility.” explains Hannes.

Unifresh has established long term relationships with reliable suppliers around the globe.

“We know the producers personally,” he says, “I agree with them a price which stays fixed for the season. That allows balance sheet predictability at every point in the process and having a direct relationship with the producer means I can guarantee the quality.” 
 
The model has proven successful. Unifresh now supplies nearly 40% of processing companies in the UK.
“Our business model is about being nimble and agile, managing the logistics and ensuring trust among all parties involved in our supply chain.” says Hannes.

“To Unifresh, relationships with the people who supply us and whom we supply are important. We go out to see each individual grower prior to each season to discuss post-season performance and pre-season expectations and requirements. To me, all links in the chain are part of the Unifresh family and that’s what drives my dedication to being the best.”

For further information on Unifresh Foodservices Ltd,
Contact Hannes Martin on +44 (0)1622 873 059 or visit www.unifreshfoodservices.com.

Unifresh is modelled on ensuring a year round supply of Crimson Seedless grape along with citrus fruits and apples - aimed directly at supplying the foodservices sector only.

Unifresh Foodservices Ltd  has established long term relationships with reliable suppliers in Chile based on MD Hannes Martin’s experience in the region.

“I know the producers personally,” he says, “I agree with them a price which stays fixed for the season. That allows balance sheet predictability at every point in the process and having a direct relationship with the producer means I can guarantee the quality.”  

David Del Curto, principal supplier of Chilean grapes to Unifresh agrees; “My reputation is in providing top quality produce and I look for someone I can trust to safeguard that reputation when my fruit arrives in the UK. We have great faith in the quality management measures of Unifresh. It’s a partnership that works well for all concerned including the customer who gets the great reassurance of price and supply.”

The model has proven successful, Unifresh now supplies some 30%- 40% of processing companies in the UK with the majority of the product used in the foodservice sector trade from fruit bags to cheese boards and even base ingredients.

“Our customers favour the Crimson Seedless grape varietal - hardy and able to withstand processing and handling. To guarantee year round supply, Unifresh uses ‘shoulder seasons’, taking full advantage of the Chilean season from March to middle August.

“From the beginning of June until prior to the Spanish Crimson season we store around 450 pallets of Chilean Crimson to ensure that our customers do not have to purchase Egyptian nor USA Flame Seedless for processing.

“Over this storage period we increase our inspection frequency of each unit using Technofresh, experts in quality management. Each pallet, stored between 0.05 and -0.08 degrees Celsius, is checked at least once per week, enabling us to either adhere to FIFO or opt out-of it – depending on each pallet’s condition on the day of dispatch.”

“It’s about offering a market related business model to our customers – creating a strategic fit between customer and supply and managing contingencies in between.” says Hannes.




For further information on Unifresh Foodservices Ltd,
contact Hannes Martin on +44 (0)1622 873 059 or visit www.unifreshfoodservices.com. 

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