Keeping a global partnership local Producing more than 30 million beverage items annually across more than 60 manufacturing sites worldwide, Refresco lays claim to being the world\u2019s largest independent bottler.<\/p>\n
The company, which has grown rapidly thanks to a series of acquisitions over the past two decades, has a global partnership with PET preform specialist Retal that is tailored to suit regional markets.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintaining quality is expected across all aspects of working with global partners, but that doesn\u2019t mean that everything is the same everywhere,\u201d says Gennadiy Khmelevskiy, global key account manager at Retal. \u201cThe details specific to local markets are important, as is knowing the preferences of each team in different locations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Retal produces PET and rPET preforms and HDPE closures for Refresco. The partnership, which began when Retal successfully tendered for a project with Refresco Benelux, hinges on being able to produce and provide the right product at the right volume.<\/p>\n
Offering the correct technical solution with the best priceperformance ratio is, of course, imperative, Khmelevskiy says, but it\u2019s what goes beyond this that makes the partnership. \u201cAs a dedicated sales and service person, it\u2019s particularly important for me to diagnose any painpoints in the business and find an agile service solution that heals that pain. I also rely on our excellent service team, who can get to any Refresco business unit within 24 hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Khmelevskiy is Retal\u2019s single point of contact for Refresco and regularly communicates with Martijn Tempelaar, Refresco\u2019s senior central purchasing manager, to ensure projects are progressing as agreed. \u201cKeeping open communication with my Refresco contacts means that I stay aligned with Refresco\u2019s headquarters in Rotterdam [in the Netherlands], as well as understanding the evolving needs of each business unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tempelaar agrees that being able to create solutions that can be quickly adapted for other locations helps to make a profitable partnership for both parties. \u201cIt is far easier to work with a smaller number of partners and repeat whatever elements of the project can be repeated, so we\u2019re focused on the aspects that need to be changed. Building up trust is a longterm priority for us, and I trust the Retal team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read in digital edition of Plastics in Packaging<\/a> (page 21)<\/p>\n