BUSINESS CASE
Belgische Fruitveiling (BFV)
Quality
Short transit time
Flexibility
Exporting TRUVAL Conference pears
from Antwerp to China
Belgische Fruitveiling (BFV) is the
largest European fruit growers’
cooperative, with an annual
production volume of 230,000
tonnes and a turnover of 145
million euros. BFV is the European
market leader in different types
of fruit, in particular conference
pears. The Port of Antwerp is
a key partner in the overseas
supply chain of BFV.
www.bfv.be
www.portofantwerp.com
Thanks to the good collaboration
with the various players in the
port, BFV is able to transport its
pears in a fast and flexible way
to China.
COMPANY PROFILE
BELGISCHE
FRUITVEILING (BFV)
 Cooperative of 1500
members
 Sorting, packaging and
distribution of fruit
 Market leader in
Conference pears
Thanks to the
flexibility in
Antwerp our pear
exports have never
missed a ship
 Annual production
volume of 230,000
tonnes
 Turnover of 145 million
euros
 85% of all products are
exported all over the
world
BUSINESS CASE
Belgische Fruitveiling (BFV)
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2
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Challenge
High quality
requirements from
Chinese consumers
Solution
Short transit
time and flexible
handling
Result
Tasty pears
for Chinese
consumers

STRICT QUALITY
 FAST TRANSIT
 HIGH QUALITY
Thanks to its location, the Port
of Antwerp is geographically close
to our fruit auctions. Moreover,
the transit times within the
port are shorter than in other
European ports. Products can still
be delivered to the port only 18
hours before the ship sails. BFV
also makes frequent use of the
flexibility afforded for late arrivals.
The Port of Antwerp is a key
partner in the overseas supply
chain of BFV. Thanks to the good
collaboration with the various
players in the port, BFV is able to
transport its pears in a fast and
flexible way to China. As a result
the TRUVAL Conference pears have
an assured place on the Chinese
supermarket shelves while keeping
their great taste, straight from the
Belgian fruit valley.
REQUIREMENTS
The conference pear is firm and
well suited to export, but short
transit times are nevertheless very
important. The faster the pears
reach their final destination,
the better the taste remains.

STRONG FOCUS
ON COST CONTROL
The cost of transport plays an
important role, as it makes up
some 10% of the retail price of
the pear.

LESS PAPERWORK
Exporting Conference pears
to China requires a whole lot of
paperwork.
 FLEXIBLE PLANNING
AND HANDLING
BFV calls upon the specialist
logistics service provider foodcareplus for the entire logistics
challenge, from transport to phytosanitary inspections. Foodcareplus guarantees flexible planning:
after conditioning the pears are
loaded on board ship as quickly as
possible. Moreover foodcareplus
measures the performance of
all players involved, so that the
logistics process can be constantly
fine-tuned.
 REGULAR LINER SERVICES
The availability of many regular liner services in Antwerp offers
a lot of advantages and reduces the
variability in the supply chain.
Supply chain
BELGIUM
Vrasene / Sint-Truiden
PORT OF ANTWERP
DP World 1742
Antwerp Gateway 1700
PSA Noordzee Terminal 913
SHIPPING COMPANY
Yang Ming Line / Hanjin
Cosco / Maersk Line
Hyundai Merchant Marine
FOODCAREPLUS
FOODCAREPLUS
BELGISCHE FRUITVEILING (BFV)
Shipper Marc Evrard, T +32 011 69 34 11, E [email protected]
Logistics service provider foodcareplus Steve Alaerts, T +32 3 242 91 54, E [email protected]
PORT OF ANTWERP
Wim Dillen, Sr. Business development manager, T +32 (0)3 229 65 92, E [email protected]
Responsible editor: Port of Antwerp — Pictures: © Port of Antwerp — May 2013 — 600101
DESTINATIONS
China (Xingang, Shekou, Shanghai)
Hong Kong / Singapore
Vladivostok / Surabaya / Port Kelang