"Packing sheets used to all be plastic. These days, more people are switching to paper due to its environmental and health benefits," says Emiel van der Walle of Direct Pack. This Dutch company provides the fruit and vegetable sector with packaging solutions, from cardboard trays to plastic bags, outer boxes to corner slats, and pulp trays to top-seal film. Emiel recently started purchasing paper packaging sheets directly from a Polish manufacturer exclusively for the Dutch market.
© Direct Pack
Other packaging distributors often get their goods from various suppliers in different countries. However, Emiel has made an exclusive deal with Prinest for these paper packing sheets. "Thanks to this partnership, we no longer have to constantly search the market to find available products at the lowest possible price. With several regular customers and a rapidly growing client base, sales are going well."
© Direct Pack
"The market in the Netherlands used to be somewhat divided between two large parties who sourced most of their packaging solutions from the same place. You'd sometimes see and hear that they'd get their goods from China, North Africa, or Southern European countries. But for a product that often requires a quick turnaround, buyers can benefit from sourcing directly from Poland. Prinest has good, consistent quality, assured availability, and very short communication lines. That saves valuable time and, thus, money, which negates other origins' 'better' purchase price," says Emiel.
© Direct Pack
He describes these Polish packaging sheets' prices on the Dutch market as competitive. "It's a single distributor with a fixed price list, so prices aren't fragmented between multiple distributors. These packing sheets' prices are competitive, given the quality."
© Direct Pack
This product is used for things like top fruit, tomatoes, limes, and avocados and is widely used in Poland and the Netherlands. "In both countries, packing fruit in a single layer in boxes is standard practice. The packing sheets are available in different colors and sizes, and they can also be printed with a design according to the customer's wishes," explains Emiel.
© Direct Pack
"These days, the raw material, paper, wins out over plastic in this type of packaging material. Consumer emotion - people like making environmentally conscious choices - undoubtedly helps motivate that. The raw virgin paper material is also compostable."
© Direct Pack
Emiel considers having a single, local contact point advantageous for Dutch buyers. "You have contact with someone who speaks the same language and knows the market well. Orders can range from a single pallet to a full load, and small quantities are no problem. Groupage solves that, as does our ever-growing stock. Sometimes, the packing sheets can be delivered directly from the factory in Poland to its destination within just 48 hours. For regular orders, that takes seven to ten working days, but we can handle same-day deliveries from our warehouse in the Netherlands," he concludes.
For more information:
Emiel van der Walle
Direct Pack
Tel: +31 (0)6 29577249
sales@directpack.nl
www.directpack.nl