Global Transport and Logistics

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The Path to Becoming a Supplier for Major Retail Chains Starts in the Warehouse

Entering the ranks of suppliers for the largest retail chains is a proven way to significantly increase sales volumes, which is why many entrepreneurs set it as their goal. However, establishing such partnerships requires meeting strict standards regarding the quality of product handling, where logistics plays a crucial role. In the Pomerania region, an important support tool has emerged for companies planning to collaborate with retail chains or export to major European markets.

Budynek DSV

How to Become a Supplier for Retail Chains?

Every manufacturer aims to maximize the sales of their products and reach new consumer groups. These goals can be achieved by becoming a supplier for large retail chains, which provide access to a broad customer base. Consequently, many Polish suppliers strive to establish partnerships with such entities both domestically and across Europe. However, achieving this goal involves meeting numerous criteria, as retail chains impose stringent requirements on their contractors.

This is particularly true for food products, which must be stored under appropriate conditions at every stage of the supply chain—from raw material production and processing to delivery to the final destination.

From Certified Warehouses to Retail Chains

Finding the right business partners is essential to ensuring compliance with food storage requirements. Logistics operators play a key role in handling food products. Their tasks extend beyond merely delivering a specific volume of goods to a designated recipient on time. Logistics operators oversee products from the moment they are collected from the factory or manufacturing site until they are transported to the appropriate destination, ensuring their safety throughout the process.

One of the documents certifying adherence to the highest standards of food safety during storage and road transport is the IFS certificate, which is highly valued by companies in Germany, France, Austria, and Poland. It confirms that the handling process complies with international standards.

Many retail chains require their suppliers, as well as their subcontractors involved in food handling, to possess this certification. Properly planning—or outsourcing—quality control processes within the supply chain can be a decisive factor in a network's decision to cooperate with a new supplier, explains Magdalena Matyśkiewicz, Quality Assurance Manager, Quality Department at DSV – Global Transport and Logistics.

The IFS standards for product storage assist in planning of logistics processes. The recommended solutions help not only in efficient day-to-day operations but also in identifying potential risks and proper safeguarding of stored goods against these dangers. Moreover, the certificate is valid for only 12 months to ensure holders’ ongoing compliance with standards. To obtain it, organizations must pass external audits, which evaluate management awareness, documentation practices, and systems controling corrective actions.

Gdańsk as a Hub for Polish Food Suppliers

In Pomerania, one of the world’s largest logistics operators, DSV – Global Transport and Logistics, manages a warehouse that has received the IFS certificate for the fourth consecutive time. The entire 21,000-square-meter storage area is certified, with a dedicated 5,000-square-meter zone specifically designed for handling of food products. This area is monitored for several critical factors.

According to IFS standards, each food product entering the warehouse undergoes thorough checks upon both receipt and dispatch. The facility also employs measures to minimize any risks from external factors, such as temperature monitoring, pest control, and careful product arrangement to prevent cross-contamination—for example, one product absorbing another’s odor. Additionally, the operator has tools for recalling products from the market if necessary.

At DSV's Gdańsk warehouse, the detailed documentation of individual products enables tracking the history of a specific package within 30 minutes. It’s easy to determine where a product was stored, as well as when and to which store it was delivered. This provides both the manufacturer and the client with full visibility into storage conditions and serves as proof of compliance with all required standards during storage and transportation, says Magdalena Matyśkiewicz, Quality Assurance Manager, Quality Department at DSV.

Distribution of products also adheres to IFS standards, which is particularly important for long-distance food transportation. DSV supports Polish companies in organizing and managing both domestic and international logistics operations.

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