London, UK – Fresh produce software solutions specialist Affinitus and leading client HL Hall will both be present at the upcoming trade fair Fruit Logistica 2016 following a successful initial roll-out of Affinitus’ Freshware system across HL Hall facilities in the UK.
With companies from across the global fresh produce sector set to gather in Berlin, Germany for the annual industry showcase, which takes place from 3-5 February 2016, Affinitus will be visiting to highlight the benefits its solutions can deliver for producers and exporters in the UK and beyond.
These include Agrilogik, a system specifically designed for the technical departments of fresh produce companies, which is aimed at improving the management of information necessary when handling fresh produce, such as quality assurance and documentation, and quality control.
Launched at the London Produce Show last year, Agrilogik complements Affinitus’ established software systems, Freshware and Chefserve, which have already helped deliver effective information management solutions to companies in the fresh produce and foodservice sectors.
Implementation Continues
One fresh produce company that is already making use of Freshware is Tonbridge, Kent-based HL Hall, the UK subsidiary of major South African grower and exporter Halls, which has implemented the system across its UK facilities.
A specialist in avocados, mangos and limes, as well as a huge range of other sub-tropical exotics including lychees, pineapples and pomegranates, HL Hall has a sizeable presence in the UK, from where it also oversees the company’s operations in mainland Europe.
Paul Devlin, managing director of HL Hall: Europe, said: “Freshware is a very good fresh produce system. It’s certainly helped the business from day one and I’m sure it’ll help even further as we continue to increase our use of it in other parts of the business.”
Devlin, who anticipates that implementation the additional modules of the system will be completed by summer 2016, explained that Freshware has not only being rolled-out by the company in the UK, but has also been installed throughout HL Halls’ European pack house sites.
“Although we are based in the UK, a lot of our business is in continental Europe, so Freshware has been implemented across our European operations,” Devlin said.
Innovative solutions
The newest addition to Affinitus’ range of innovative solutions for the fresh produce sector is Agrilogik, a system developed to make management of fresh produce information straightforward, from quality control data to the latest harvest updates.
Constant changes in legislation and the enormous amount of data and documentation that is needed to manage quality assurance and quality control when handling fresh produce shipments is a continual challenge for importers and exporters alike.
Agrilogik offers a complete solution for managing these proceses by bringing all the necessary data together into one place – all of which can be accessed through online portals by fresh produce handlers and trading partners, making informed decisions making more straightforward.
Client focus
Affinitus has been providing software solutions to the fresh produce sector for almost 25 years and estimates that over 250 companies in the UK now make use of its systems.
In fact, some 70% of fruit and vegetable wholesale companies at London’s New Covent Garden Market now work with Affinitus software.
Affinitus managing director Paul Hardy explained that working closely with its client base had been a key factor in Affinitus’ growth as a company, explaining that changes to software solutions often arise as a result of its regular site visits to learn about customers’ evolving requirements.
“Clients work closely with us to let us know how their businesses are changing and what is important to them,” Hardy added. “We visit clients regularly and often spot an improvement that could be done for them within our system and that leads development.”
Source: Affinitus
