3 minute read
When Swedish originals meet
Björn Solfors
EAB STORAGE EQUIPMENT When Swedish originals meet
Alvestaglass has produced ice cream since 1979 and has progressed from a local business, in the small town of Alvesta in Sweden, to a strong and popular brand among Swedish ice cream lovers. And the story doesn't end there either, since in recent years they have introduced new, healthier alternatives, which do very well both internationally and among today's health-conscious consumers. The proprietary LOHILO brand, which stands for low carb, high protein and low fat, includes protein ice cream without added sugar, while tasting just as good as traditional ice cream.
Dan Isaksson ”The Ice Cream Maestro" EAB had the opportunity to talk to the man behind all the ice cream, Dan Isaksson a.k.a. the Ice Cream Maestro, who started and developed the company. Dan invited us to taste his favourite ice creams while enthusiastically describing the company's journey and the exciting process behind the different flavours. ”Consumers are becoming more aware as every day passes, and for us it's both important and fun to be able to launch a healthier alternative without sugar, and with a lower fat content, but with more protein," he says.
Dan also describes how new flavours are developed. Dan reviews current trends within confectionery and then carries out a lot of tests. As a relatively small company, with short decision-making channels, it takes just a few months from discussing a new flavour until it is available in the freezer at the local supermarket. Dan also proudly relates that Lohilo is the brand that first launched protein ice cream, sugarfree ice cream and completely lactose-free ice cream, so that, according to Dan, they are the market's original brand.
”Most of the flavours we've produced and launched have been successful, but there have naturally also been some product flops. Early in the process, we launched an aloe vera-flavoured ice cream, but we probably didn't get it quite right," Dan says with a smile.
Erik Isaksson, warehouse manager at Alvestaglass, describes how that today there are ten warehouses in Sweden and around 70 full-time employees in total. Their ambition is to double turnover this year and, in five years' time, they expect to export far more. Due to this growth, they needed larger storage areas with an optimised number of pallet spaces, in order to ensure future expansion. They moved into new warehouse and logistics premises in Växjö, where freezer capacity of 2,000 m² was incorporated (to hold the no less than 4 million ice creams stored there).
Magnus Ullerås, Area Sales Manager, EAB ”By installing Radioshuttle™ at Alvestaglass, they have capacity for twice as many pallet spaces, and thereby ice creams, which saves them both energy and resources," emphasises Magnus Ullerås, Area Sales Manager for storage equipment at EAB.
Apart from optimising the storage area in the best possible way, there was also a need for a storage solution that could function in the temperature zones required by a -24°C freezer.
Jonas Ljungdahl
For Magnus at EAB, it became clear at an early stage that our patented Radioshuttle™ system was the perfect solution for Alvestaglass and their storage situation. ”Every day, a large number of ice creams are moved in and out of our warehouse, and during our campaign periods the lead time for an ice-cream is less than one day. So yes, Radioshuttle™ really helps us to streamline and create more storage space. It's been a pleasure to work with EAB and the cooperation between us has worked flawlessly, from the start to final installation," says Erik Isaksson, warehouse manager at Alvestaglass.
”It's been both fun and exciting to be part of this great expansion journey for Alvestaglass. EAB was involved at an early stage, which meant that together we could find a solution that specifically fits their operations and development journey. It's also pretty cool that Radioshuttle™, which is the original brand on its market, is now helping some other original brands," says Magnus.
Magnus Ullerås, Area Sales Manager at EAB
ABOUT ALVESTAGLASS
Alvestaglass changed its name to Lohilo Foods last autumn. The Lohilo Foods Group includes such brands as Alvestaglass, Järna, Nix, Häägen Daz and Lohilo.
