STREAMLINING YOUR LOGISTICS
EDITION 02–2022 WWW.DISTRILOG.BE
OUR MAJOR 2022 PROJECTS OUR COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE PICTURE
Dear Member of the Distrilog Family, Summer is upon us once again. Spring has rushed by like an express train. In this issue, you can read how we opened two new depots, moved our Cross-Dock and Customer Service Departments during one weekend in April, and started two new partnerships. A real accomplishment! This was only possible thanks to good preparation and our employees, who have shown the necessary flexibility, proactivity, and commitment.
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Through our cooperation with various educational institutions, we hope to enthuse young people about our sector (and our company). After all, the logistics and transport sector is constantly changing and new jobs are created every day. The current and future scarcity on the labour market, however, makes it increasingly difficult to fill these positions qualitatively. This is one of the reasons why we are looking at possible automation within our warehouses. Another challenge is the constantly rising costs. Not only will energy and
fuel become more expensive, but wage costs are also expected to experience a historically high indexation in January 2023. There will be more clarity on this in the autumn. In the meantime, let us first enjoy a beautiful and sunny summer! We hope you enjoy reading it! PHILIP SALAERTS
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Our major 2022 projects THE FIRST HALF OF 2022 IS ALMOST OVER. SO, IT’S TIME TO LOOK BACK ON A VERY EXCITING SPRING IN WHICH WE PROUDLY WELCOMED TWO NEW CUSTOMERS, OPENED TWO ADDITIONAL SITES, AND TOOK ON THE ACCOMPANYING CHALLENGES. WE WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIGGEST CHANGES AFFECTING YOU.
THE START-UP OF OUR CUSTOMER MARS Our new customer Mars moved into our warehouses near the Koningin Astridlaan in Willebroek. Distrilog Group is proud to bring two of the world’s largest food companies, Nestlé, and Mars, together under one roof… an unparalleled event! Besides the storage of about 26,000 pallets and accompanying co-packing activities, Distrilog also distributes their goods to Belgian retailers. And just as for Nestlé, we also supply pet food to breeding farms.
With Nestlé and Mars, Distrilog Group brings together two of the world’s largest food companies under one roof… an unparalleled event! Some adjustments were introduced in the warehouse to accommodate for this customer. For example, the existing racking infrastructure was changed and we invested in additional temperature conditioning. Finally, the mezzanines will be used as an additional co-packing zone.
THE 19TH DISTRILOG SITE: TRITON IN WILLEBROEK Mars’ arrival affected some of our other customers. For example, the goods of four customers were relocated to a different or new Distrilog site. Our new location in Willebroek is called Triton. With its opening, our entire cross-dock and some services – including our customer service department and distribution planning – were relocated to new premises. On Friday 22 April, they finished up their activities in Breendonk and started up again two kilometres away on Monday 25 April. A real accomplishment! The new Distrilog warehouse is located at Schoondonkweg 16 in Willebroek and has 19,000 m² of storage space, 30 loading bays, and is 10 metres high.
A LOGISTICS PARTNERSHIP WITH AB INBEV Besides our existing transport activities, Distrilog started a new logistics service for AB InBev in February 2022 at our site in Cargovil, Vilvoorde. This site is located near the Leuven and Hoegaarden breweries, which makes it an ideal starting point for daily deliveries to sites like Belgian retail centres. Freight for the international market that is not transported in containers also sets off from our Vilvoorde depot. This new collaboration includes handling, storing, and picking their beer, the accompanying empty bottles, and the new bottles. AB InBev’s repacking activities will also be integrated on-site.
With this collaboration, AB InBev resolutely chooses Distrilog as an important partner in the logistics organisation of the largest brewery chain in the world. Goods storage takes up more than 40,000 m². We changed the depot infrastructure to block stacking and also provided adapted rolling stock for the work. For example, we use 8 five-ton forklifts equipped with modern tablets and scanners to handle two pallets at a time in one movement. With this collaboration, AB InBev resolutely chooses Distrilog as an important partner in the logistics organisation of the largest brewery chain in the world. This reinforces a close, lasting partnership.
KONTICH: THE 20TH DISTRILOG SITE
This new Distrilog site has 40,000 m² of space and 45 loading bays. No fewer than 50 employees from the Vilvoorde site were happy to relocate to Kontich, as shown by their commitment and flexibility. The addition of this site means that Distrilog has no less than 20 sites spread over 12 locations. Onwards to the 21st…?
Distrilog and our collaboration with educational institutions AS WELL AS COLLABORATING WITH VARIOUS COLLEGES FOR APPRENTICESHIPS AND SCHOOL PROJECTS, AND RUNNING OUR MANAGEMENT TRAINEESHIP FOR RECENT GRADUATES, DISTRILOG ALSO FOCUSES ON OTHER EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. Having been disrupted by the corona virus, the seventh edition of the TL Hub Business Game finals – hosted by Distrilog – was finally held on Wednesday, 23 March 2022. A grand total of sixteen teams submitted their solutions for our case on optimising warehouse processes using new technologies. Four teams made it to the finals and were invited to Distrilog’s headquarters in Willebroek. These were two teams from Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen (HOWEST), a delegation from Haute École de Louvain and Hainaut (HELHA), and another from Haute École Charlemagne (HECH). The four teams each had 30 minutes to present their proposals and answer the jury’s questions. After deliberation, the HECH team were unanimously voted the winners of this TL Hub Business Game. Roel Vanmaele,
COO: “All four presentations were of a very high level. Our final decision was based on the quality and thoroughness of the research conducted by the HECH team.” After the awards ceremony, students and teachers were given the opportunity to discover Distrilog and the world of logistics and transport from the inside, with a tour of the warehouse, a drive in a lorry, an introduction to the rolling stock, and the chance to shadow one of our transport planners. A wonderful end to an inspiring day! In addition to higher education, we also focus on collaborations with local secondary schools, which offer courses within the field of logistics. This year, for example, we have already hosted visits from various class groups from the Atheneum in Boom, Atheneum in Willebroek
and Ursulinen in Mechelen. With an introduction to logistics, followed by a tour of our warehouses, we stimulate students to specialise or work in our dynamic sector. “Our educational partnerships are very important to us, as they secure our intake of new employees and young potentials, and they keep our knowledge updated. After all, we learn a lot from education and vice versa”, concludes Roel Vanmaele.
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At the same time as the start of the logistics collaboration with AB InBev, Distrilog also moved into the warehouses of the former Philips site at Satenrozen 11-13 in Kontich. At this branch, we organise the promotional activities (food and non-food) for our retail customer Carrefour and also provide storage space for our industrial customer Atlas Copco.
In the picture OUR SALES TEAM HAS BEEN REINFORCED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FROM VARIOUS ANGLES! ALL THE MORE REASON TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THEM ALL TOGETHER. MEET THE DISTRILOG SALES TEAM!
ROBERT-JAN VAN SPAENDONCK
FILIP VAN GORP
ANOUCK VANDEN BERGHE
Part of the Distrilog family since 2016
Part of the Distrilog family since 2022
Part of the Distrilog family since 2015
Senior Key Account Manager
Key Account Manager
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Business Development Manager
LIEVEN ROOSE
MARC KEYMEULEN
LOUISE DE VLIEGERE
GEERT DETOLLENAERE
Part of the Distrilog family since 2020
Part of the Distrilog family since 2018
Part of the Distrilog family since 2020
Part of the Distrilog family since 2021
Business Development Manager
Commercial Director
Marketing and Communication Manager
Business Development Director
We wish you all a pleasant and relaxing holiday! As part of our sustainable logistics, this newspaper was printed on recycled paper. However, we can offer you the option to receive this magazine in digital form in the future. Interested? Then please provide us with your contact details and we will add you to our mailing list. marketing@distrilog.be
DISTRILOG GROUP · KONINGIN ASTRIDLAAN 14 · B-2830 WILLEBROEK (BREENDONK) · T +32 3 860 00 86 · SALES@DISTRILOG.BE · WWW.DISTRILOG.BE