As the first European wholesale supplier of potatoes for the production of potato chips, Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S (Denmark) is now offering its customers access to a web-based information system containing unique data for each customer. By using the system, the customer can access detailed information regarding the quality of the potatoes under way to be delivered.
Thorsens Chipskartofler already delivers potatoes based on a “just-in-time” concept. This means that the customer can order potatoes a few days in advance, to be delivered by a specific time. Today all deliveries are quality checked and the results are sent to the customer. Now however, Thorsens Chipskartofler has invested in a new, state-of-the-art lab for quality analysis as well as an automated system for data collection for traceability and quality. The automated data collection minimizes the risk of error and allows the results from the analyses to be made available to the customers through the web-based information system.
CEO Erik Thorsen stated; “Our customers knows their potatoes before they see them”.
The new transparency of the delivery, which is unique for the industry, offers huge benefits for the manufacturers, as it will enable early planning of their production, adjusted to the actual potato quality possible. This will result in better chips and a more effective production. All data relating to deliveries are kept in a single digital repository, which makes it easy to retrieve historical data for analysis.
The investment follows just three years after Thorsens Chipskartofler spent € 3,5 mill., setting up the most advanced wash and sorting installation in Northern Europe.
CEO Erik Thorsen;”I expect that this investment will contribute substantially to continued growth in our exports, which has already grown by 60% since the investment made in 2012. In the industry there is a huge demand for information regarding the commodities used. We are the first to deliver this information online.” Thorsen adds, “quality has always been high priority for us and we have monitored quality continuously. Now we have created a digital platform to share our information.” Finally Erik Thorsen says, “Our state-of-the-art lab has been established with our corporate values in mind. We want to be an attractive workplace and our lab will improve working conditions; by among other things eliminating heavy lifts entirely.”
The new facilities will be ready October 29th and this will be celebrated with an open house event, which also marks Erik Thorsens 60th birthday.
