Chefs Culinar prevents employee absence

Pushing roll containers from a truck to hard-to-reach locations every day is demanding work. Sjaak Luijken, loading supervisor at Chefs Culinar, increasingly noticed colleagues dealing with physical complaints. That had to change, he believed. Electric tuggers now take over the physically demanding part of the job.

Anyone walking into the Chefs Culinar building may immediately be greeted by the delicious aroma of freshly prepared food. The kitchen where mouthwatering dishes are being prepared at that moment is located in a modern inspiration center at the front of the building. The warm welcome and positive atmosphere reflect the convivial feel of a good hospitality venue. Yet Chefs Culinar is a supplier. From its distribution center in Nijmegen, the originally German company supplies a complete range of food and non-food products to restaurants, fast service operators, catering companies, leisure venues, and theme and holiday parks across the Netherlands.

Added value through inspiration

Expertise lies within several fresh product groups: fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, and wine. With its own butcher shop, fish department, and fruit and vegetable production, the company offers a wide fresh assortment and short supply lines. “We create added value for our customers by inspiring them in areas such as menu development, calculations, and a carefully tailored assortment,” says loading supervisor Sjaak Luijken. “We employ several fresh specialists, a registered vinologist, and a culinary advisor.” This explains the enticing aroma upon entering.

Sjaak Luijken and Frits Wernsen

City centers with cobblestones

With more than 30 trucks and nine vans, Chefs Culinar’s drivers head out on the road every day to supply customers with fresh products. Loading supervisor Sjaak is often already in the warehouse at 3 a.m. to make sure the roll containers with the right goods are ready in the right place and in the right order. The drivers then only have to roll them into the truck and unload them along the route. But that is exactly where a bottleneck emerged. “Some hospitality businesses are located in places where a truck simply cannot reach,” Sjaak explains. “In city centers, for example, drivers often have to park hundreds of meters away. If the streets are covered with cobblestones or the location is on a hill, it becomes quite a challenge to move roll containers that sometimes carry more than a hundred kilograms of products to the customer.” This led to shoulder complaints and other physical discomfort, particularly among older drivers, sometimes resulting in long-term absence.

Sustainable employability

Sjaak therefore looked for a solution that could literally relieve his drivers of the strain. He found it in electric tuggers that provide the pulling power to move roll containers. The driver only needs to steer the goods in the right direction; an important step toward sustainable employability. Chefs Culinar is also gradually switching to electric vehicles for climate reasons. At the moment, the company operates two fully electric trucks. Three more will be added in mid-April. “In more and more cities you are no longer even allowed to enter the city center with a non-electric truck,” says Sjaak. “For management, that is an extra motivation to electrify the fleet.”

Back to the tuggers: Chefs Culinar tested tuggers from two different companies. “The solution from Simply Mover felt the most robust and solid to us,” says Sjaak. “An additional advantage in choosing them was that they could supply the tugger in our own corporate colors.” Frits Wernsen, owner of Simply Mover, has now joined the conversation. He is clear about the process leading up to the purchase: “For us, it is only natural that our customers can test our equipment first. We can come up with all kinds of ideas, but in the end it is the drivers who have to work with it; the solution has to make their job easier.”

Physical strain

The electric tugger can pull up to 800 kg at once; a considerable weight that no longer rests on the drivers’ shoulders. Another advantage is that they can easily pull multiple roll containers at the same time, reducing the need to walk back and forth. Frits would like to see more attention given to physical strain in the sector. “Logistics companies struggle to find good drivers. Older drivers with a lot of experience are particularly valuable. But you can only retain them if they remain fit and healthy. In practice, that simply means providing them with the right tools.” Sjaak agrees. “Part of my job is making sure drivers stay motivated. That means I work to support them where needed, including finding solutions that reduce physical strain.”

When asked how long the tuggers last, Frits responds: “Many of the tuggers we delivered at the beginning of this century are still in operation. We replace a battery or the tires now and then, but you can certainly expect the machine itself to last at least fifteen years.”
“Provided the drivers use it as intended,” Sjaak laughs.

www.chefsculinar.nl
www.simply-mover.nl

Photos: © Studio 38C