Raisch bakery trusts in
va-Q-tray for the transportation of its baked goods
The Raisch bakery, a family-run business from Calw in Baden-Württemberg, has been relying on the va-Q-tray for transporting various baked goods, such as cream cakes, snack items and food from the cold kitchen, since 2020. By using the passive solution from va-Q-tec, the transportation of baked goods to the 28 stores is smoother and more efficient than with the conventional EPS boxes previously used.
Maximilian Raisch, bread world champion 2018 and one of the managing directors of Bäckerei Raisch, is primarily responsible for production and logistics. He spoke to va-Q-tec about the use and benefits of the va-Q-tray.
How many of the va-Q-trays do you use?
We have been using around 400 va-Q-tray M25s in our bakery since 2020. In summer 2022, we increased our stock by around 800 va-Q-tray M15s.
How did you become aware of the va-Q-tec products?
I first saw the transport boxes at a trade fair and found the technology and the possible applications very convincing. The dimensions of the boxes we previously used for shipping didn’t fit our basket systems well and they weren’t very robust, so we often had to replace lids or even entire boxes.
We therefore contacted va-Q-tec and received four va-Q-tray boxes for testing. During this test phase, we fitted the boxes with loggers to continuously monitor the temperature inside. We also carried out additional microbiological tests in collaboration with a laboratory. We were so impressed by the results that we subsequently purchased several hundred va-Q-trays. In the meantime, we have completely switched to the passive high-tech solution from va-Q-tec in various areas.
What do you use the va-Q-tray for?
We now use the va-Q-trays for the entire cold confectionery department, i.e. cakes, pies and also for the entire snack department. Everything that comes from the cold kitchen, such as salads or dressings, is also transported with the help of the va-Q-tray.
Are there any challenges when transporting such goods?
Basically, maintaining the cold chain is particularly important when transporting perishable goods. This is a real challenge, especially in summer. Our vehicles are usually on the road with the baked goods for two to three hours to the stores. During this time, temperature-stable transportation must be guaranteed.
Because this is so important, we have carried out several long-term tests with the boxes. This means that we precisely measured the temperature inside the box using a thermometer to detect any deviations. We repeated this test a total of three times and were then absolutely convinced by the va-Q-tray box.
What do you think are the advantages
of the va-Q-tray?
The product has several advantages for us: The biggest advantage is the long temperature holding time. This allows us to ensure the correct cold chain for our products regardless of the time of year or traffic jams. The easy handling is another advantage. The boxes can be stacked with the existing crates, which significantly increases load security compared to EPS boxes. I also don’t need an extra lid or separate cooling batteries as with the solution we used before. This means that fewer parts need to be cleaned, which saves time and money. It also saves us space, especially during transportation. In the past, I had to use an entire refrigerated truck even if I was only sending two cream cakes, but now I can simply send two boxes instead. The boxes also make the driver’s job a lot easier, especially because they weigh less. We also save around 2.5 hours a day, as one process step is saved in order picking. The ease of cleaning is also an advantage – because hygiene naturally plays a major role. We can simply rinse the va-Q-trays in our basket washer.
Do you predict further areas of
application for the va-Q-tray in the future?
In principle, many more products can be transported with the boxes in the future. We have recently started using the va-Q-tray M15, which still offers a lot of potential for the snack sector in particular.
