Luiten Food – Thomas Foods Europe is a family-owned business with deep roots and strong growth ambitions. Over the past decade, both its workforce and revenue have doubled. What started as a trading company has evolved into a versatile business with its own production facilities. A key factor in this development is a flexible ERP system tailored to the meat sector.

In 1938, Leen Luiten began selling butter, cheese, eggs and chicken at a market in The Hague. Three generations later, the company has become an international operation specialising in the import, processing and distribution of beef, poultry, lamb, Iberico ham, seafood and vegetarian products. Luiten Food supplies a diverse customer base, including supermarkets, wholesalers, cruise lines, butchers and poultry specialists in over 35 countries. Since 2018, the company has been part of Thomas Foods International, one of Australia’s largest meat producers.

Control and visibility

In 2011, Luiten Food began searching for a future-ready ERP solution. The existing system no longer met their needs, and many operations were still being handled through a patchwork of Excel spreadsheets. With multiple storage locations, the company lacked a clear view of stock levels. To support its ambitions, Luiten needed greater control over production processes, labelling, and electronic data interchange (EDI). The ERP system had to be flexible enough to match the company's specific requirements.

Requirements defined

One key priority was full control over incoming goods, warehousing and order picking. The company also wanted full traceability from farm to customer. In addition, it needed clear insights into margins, sales volumes, best-before dates and inventory levels. The new system would also have to support efficient reporting and analysis, both at batch and customer level, with complete EDI integration for all procurement and sales activities.

Clear vision, structured rollout

Luiten Food has been working with the CSB-System since 2012. The initial implementation was carried out by a dedicated internal team of key users, supported by CSB consultants. The rollout followed a clear vision: streamline and standardise processes without limiting the company’s flexibility. The system’s adaptability was a decisive factor in the selection process. Every process could be adjusted to meet Luiten’s requirements. CSB was also selected for its in-depth knowledge of the meat industry and its ready-made solutions, including integrated EDI modules, SSCC management and traceability functions.

Roald Heinsbroek, CFO, Luiten Food: “Since implementing the CSB-System, we’ve grown by more than 75%. That growth wouldn’t have been possible without CSB.”

Everything in one system

Switching to a single, central ERP system has significantly improved efficiency and reduced the risk of errors. While the company originally focused on trade, more and more attention is now going to the processing of imported products. These are cut, labelled and packaged according to customer specifications using five dedicated pricing lines.

The CSB-System provides Luiten Food with real-time inventory tracking down to individual box level, as well as precise product management with batch details and best-before dates. The pricing lines are fully integrated, with highly automated labelling and production processes. EDI communication with customers and suppliers, built-in analytics, and automated reporting are now all part of the daily routine.

Looking into the future

“The CSB-System is highly flexible and logically structured, making it easy to adapt when processes change due to growth or market shifts,” says Michael Braumuller, IT Manager at Luiten Food.

The company remains committed to growth, quality, transparency and sustainability. It actively invests in training and takes part in CSB’s customer events and knowledge sessions. This close cooperation ensures that Luiten Food is well prepared for whatever lies in front of them. 

www.luitenfood.com
www.csb.com