News

Oct 2010

Van Audenhove plundered

Source: Food Industry october 2010

Over the last few months, Kuregem has often appeared in the news, but not always in a positive light. Van Audenhove is a case that proves that the media does not exaggerate. Even though Van Audenhove had taken extreme measures to prevent a break-in, the company was completely plundered a few weeks ago. One of the things taken was the ERP package from Reflex3000 of Reflex Systems: the company's lifeline. However, thanks to the supplier's excellent service, the meat wholesaler was operational again as soon as the new PCs arrived.

Working in the meat sector appears to be a tradition in the Van Audenhove family. Gerard worked in the Anderlecht slaughterhouse while his son, Leon, started the Van Audenhove meat wholesaler in 1975. Grandson, Peter, took over the company in 2000 and great-granddaughter, Margo, is now ready to take the company to the next level. Initially, Leon concentrated exclusively on cutting beef carcasses for butchers. However, when Peter did some research, the company decided to start portioning for the restaurant and catering companies as well. This proved a good strategy, which resulted in a steady growth. "In 1992, we decided to build new 900 m2 premises in Kuregem to enable us to diversify more," explained Peter van Audenhove. "The demand for one central meat supplier

to supply restaurant and catering companies increased by the day. This is why we have gradually been expanding our meat assortment ever since. We first started with the portioning of pork but now we include veal and lamb as well. We have also submitted an application for approval to cut poultry." Van Audenhove currently attributes about 50 to 60 % of the turnover to the sales to the restaurant and catering companies. The customers are situated in Brussels, East and West Flanders. "Even though we are a very small company - with only three employees - we achieve a turnover of approximately two million euro's," explained the business manager proudly. "We always achieve an average growth of 3% annually as well, even in these times of financial crisis. The fact that we are doing so well is mainly due to our quality of service. We have even gone so far as to start our own livestock.

We fatten Belgian White-Blue to meet the demands of our butchers' customers. This way, we not only anticipate the needs of our customers for specific tastes but we also maintain the quality level. In addition, we are less dependent on the suppliers so that we can provide our customers with more continuity."

100% traceability required

In order to provide optimal service to its customers, the meat wholesaler had to invest much more. This is why Van Audenhove introduced an ERP system in 2003. "This was mainly required to meet the new tracing regulations," explained Peter Van Audenhove. "Because we supply to restaurant and catering companies, we are faced with many small and varied

Peter and Margo Van Audenhove and Jan Ickx.

orders. This is too complex to monitor accurately on paper. Of course, being able to provide information on where a piece of meat originates is a service to the customers in itself. However, thanks to the ERP package, there are almost no errors: all the customers receive exactly what they have ordered. Furthermore, the application allows our routes to be planned in the most efficient way possible which is also received favourably by our customers."

Reflex3000 is chosen

The fact that meat wholesaler Van Audenhove is such a satisfied ERP user has a lot to do with its choice of application. The company invested in Reflex3000 of Reflex Systems. "When I saw the system at the Meat & Fresh trade fair, I was won over," explained Peter Van Audenhove. "I noticed immediately how user-friendly the system is. This aspect was the most important to me, given that my staff is not proficient in IT. I also thought that it was a big advantage that Reflex 3000 has been designed for the meat-processing industry. And the fact that we can add modules to the system is a huge asset. For such a small SME as Van Audenhove, purchasing an ERP programme takes a significant bite out of the investment budget. Furthermore, it is better to discover the functions gradually otherwise it becomes too complex. Another deciding factor in choosing Reflex 3000 was the Flex. There is no other ERP supplier that has its own industrial computers even though this has its advantages as regards connectivity and service."

How does the system work?

The meat wholesaler is currently working with the purchase, receipt, sales, order (processing), tracing and delivery order modules. Because the orders mostly arrive at Peter Van Audenhove's home at night, he has chosen to process them manually using worksheets. Once the cutting has taken place, the workers enter on a Flex what they have done. "To do this

they retrieve both the article number and the customer number and then enter the lot number," explained Jan Ickx, Business Manager at Reflex Systems. "Due to the link with the weighing system, Reflex 3000 calculates the sales price automatically, upon which the application ensures 100% traceability and prints the delivery order. All the data is then ready in the invoicing enabling Peter to make the invoice with just a press of a button. What is really functional about Reflex 3000 is that the supplier's CCP's can also be entered immediately when the incoming goods are registered," added Peter Van Audenhove. "For the time being, we have limited ourselves to a hygiene check of the lorry and the transporter's clothing as well as a temperature check of the product. This is why we do not need the HACCP module yet. However, given that next year, we will try a validated automatic control system, we will fully implement this module soon. It is also our intention to replace the current Flex with the latest Flex XL. This allows more information to be displayed on the screen at the same time. In order to make the most of the advantages provided by this machine, we may have to switch to entering orders in the Reflex 3000 in advance."

Quick reaction limited damage

So far, the meat wholesaler has not invested in the accounting module yet. Another application is used to do the invoicing. "This is mainly due to the fact that this programme is linked to the software used by our accountant," explained Peter Van Audenhove. And this has partly saved the company. A few weeks ago, the company was completely plundered. Just about everything was taken: the PCs, ERP application and customer information. "Because of the link with the accountant, we could recover all the data," explained the business manager. "Otherwise, the break-in would have cost us the company. The excellent service provided by ReflexSystems has also contributed towards limiting the damage. Only six hours after we had received our new PCs, all the functions were restored and the necessary data was entered which enabled us to recommence work with Reflex 3000! That was such a relief because we had to work three days without the ERP programme. It was only then that we fully realised what the system meant to the company!"