Il Visone, a key player within the Agricoper Italian group specialising in the cultivation and supply of fresh grapes, has partnered with Tosca to address their operational challenges, maintain the quality of the produce during harvesting and storage, and achieve their sustainability goals. By adopting Tosca’s innovative reusable plastic crate solutions, Il Visone has transformed its supply chain, enhancing efficiency, reducing waste, optimising processes, and reinforcing its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Overcoming Storage and Logistics Challenges – Preserving Freshness
Maintaining the quality and freshness of grapes from harvest to market requires precision and care. Il Visone encountered significant challenges with traditional storage and transportation materials. Cardboard and lightweight plastic packaging often failed under the strain of cold storage conditions, frequently buckling and risking damage to the grapes. Inconsistent packaging also resulted in frequent pallet collapses, causing inefficiencies, safety hazards, and unnecessary waste. Moreover, bulky, non-foldable crates consumed time and resources, restricting logistical capacity.
Seeking a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable solution, Il Visone turned to Tosca for an innovative approach that would ensure consistent quality across its supply chain while streamlining operations.
Tosca’s Reusable Crates: A Game-Changer for Efficiency and Sustainability
Tosca introduced its reusable, foldable plastic crates, a solution designed to tackle Il Visone’s key challenges while enhancing overall supply chain performance. These crates, which feature pierced holes for airflow, promote optimal air circulation in cold storage, keeping grapes fresh from August to November. Their sturdy, stackable design significantly improves pallet stability, reducing the risk of collapses and ensuring safer and more reliable storage. Additionally, the foldable design allows for more efficient storage and transport, enabling Il Visone to move more crates of grapes per trip, consequently lowering logistical costs and environmental impact.
The switch to Tosca crates has also streamlined Il Visone’s operations from the field to storage. The foldable crates minimise transport back and forth between the fields and packhouses, saving time and reducing emissions. Workers can easily fold and store the empty crates, improving operational efficiency. Additionally, Tosca customised the crates with Il Visone’s branding, enhancing visibility and traceability within the supply chain, while promoting brand recognition.
A Sustainable Partnership with Growth Potential
Beyond operational efficiency, Il Visone’s transition to Tosca’s reusable crates seamlessly aligns with its commitment to sustainability. By replacing single-use packaging with durable, washable, and fully reusable crates, the company significantly reduces waste. The enhanced protection offered by Tosca’s crates also helps to minimise product damage, reducing food waste and ensuring that more grapes arrive at their destination in perfect condition. The stackable and foldable crate design contributes to lower carbon emissions by optimising transport efficiency, while Il Visone’s in-house washing system further reduces environmental impact by eliminating the need for external cleaning services.
Building on the success of this collaboration, Il Visone is keen to explore new opportunities with Tosca to further enhance its operations. The company is already utilising Tosca plastic pallets for internal handling and Tosca wood-effect crates for the CRAI retail circuit. Looking ahead, a rental service with Low Bins or similar products may be considered to improve operational efficiencies further.
Reflecting on the partnership, a representative from Il Visone remarked: “Tosca’s reusable plastic crates have simplified our operations and improved efficiency at every stage of our supply chain. From their durability and design to the excellent service provided, Tosca has been an invaluable partner.”
As Il Visone’s operations continue to grow, Tosca remains dedicated to providing innovative solutions that drive operational success while supporting environmental sustainability. This partnership demonstrates the power of innovation and collaboration that can transform supply chain operations, paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable future in fresh produce logistics.
About Tosca
Tosca is a global leader in reusable plastic packaging and performance pooling solutions. Committed to driving sustainability and innovation across industries, Tosca focuses on supplying innovative packaging solutions for a wide variety of industries
Tosca's end-to-end pooling capabilities offer a smart and sustainable solution for growers, suppliers, and retailers. By utilising reusable containers and pallets, Tosca not only reduces costs but also enhances supply chain performance.
For further information about TOSCA, visit www.toscaltd.com.