The Dutch company AFL Barendrecht recently relocated. With its new ultra-modern building, this logistics provider went from 3,000 to as many as 10,000 pallet spaces for cold storage. Straytest and Freshland Foodpacking moved with AFL Barendrecht, thus creating an efficient 'one-stop shop' for storage, handling, packaging, and customs clearance.
Abraham Habtezion van Freshland Food Packing bv, Eric Barendrecht van AFL Barendrecht en Jos van Kampen van Straytest Import Export Services
According to director Eric Barendrecht, moving to the Dutch Fresh Port was an obvious choice. "It's the center of the region's fruit trade. If we were going to build something new, this site was the only option," he says. The Barendrecht surname has been associated with the fresh produce sector for decades, beginning with Alex Barendrecht in 1971. Since the turn of the century, the family business has focused entirely on logistics services.
Modernizing and growing
The 11.500 m² building has been considerably modernized. It has 18 cold rooms with a total capacity of 10.000 pallets and features additional functionalities like freezing and ripening cells. Pushback racking ensures flexibility and accessibility even if the power should fail. The strategic layout with short distances between docks and cold stores optimizes loading and unloading speeds.
10,000 pallet places
"We were becoming limited at our old place. Here, everything runs faster and more efficiently," Eric says. In the short time since they opened, they have already filled 5,000 pallet spaces. That makes them confident of further growth. The new building, which is Breeam-Excellent sustainability certified, is partly powered by 2,941 solar panels that generate 1.1 million kWh of energy annually.
Partnering with Straytest and Freshland
Straytest, specializing in customs formalities and Freshland Foodpacking, focused on packaging jobs, strengthens AFL's services. Straytest offers a complete customs clearance and fiscal representation package. Director Jos van Kampen sees great advantages in the shared location: "Customers benefit from having all services under one roof, which generates additional business for everyone."
3 floors high, the refrigeration installations were provided by Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions bv
Freshland Foodpacking has a packaging area of 3.500 m². Business manager Abraham Habtezion points to their independent quality control and expertise in product processing, like ripening mangoes and avocados. This expansion allows this company to add new product groups, such as grapes, to its range.
infinite, it seems
An emotional inauguration
Taking the new building into use on August 1, 2024, was a milestone as well as a moment of reflection for AFL Barendrecht. Eric's father, Alex, who was closely involved in the project, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. "The opening was a bittersweet celebration, which turned into an unforgettable day," Eric concludes.
This new location and extensive facilities ensure the company is ready for a sustainable, efficient future in fresh produce logistics.
Alex / Eric Barendrecht
A.F.L. Barendrecht B.V.
Tel: +31 (0)180-614700
[email protected]
www.aflbarendrecht.nl
Jos van Kampen 
Straytest Import Export Services B.V.
[email protected]
www.straytest.nl
Freshland Repacking B.V.
T: +31 (0)180 641 130
[email protected]
www.freshlandrepacking.nl