TROPOS is a powerful and flexible ERP system, widely used in the UK food and drinks industries. TROPOS has been developed for regulated, short-cycle demand-driven manufacturing using the process model. This makes it ideal for food processors and packers, particularly those supplying the major retailers or those distributing short
shelf-life products.

Fresh Produce

Fresh produce includes fruit and vegetables that are sourced from
growers in the UK and overseas, and are processed and packed for
sale to retailers, foodservice or other food processors. This sector has
gone through significant change in recent years, as produce
distributors align their value-added services to the needs of the retailers and food processors. Most produce distributors now have
extensive cleaning, grading, processing and packing facilities,
which have similar characteristics to other fresh chilled food production.

Retailers demand produce regardless of seasonal availability, which means suppliers must source globally. Fresh produce is highly perishable, and subject to significant variation in grade, suitability and seasonal supply. Produce processors are closely aligned with growers and producers, and many own or control crops and farms. Although process plants have a high labour content, they are often highly automated and need sophisticated integration with business systems to provide visibility of in-plant operations.

TROPOS features that support the manufacture of short shelf-life food products areideally suited for processors and packers of fresh produce. However, these processors have functional requirements in addition to those required for other food products.

• Consignment costing
• “Day one for day one” order and delivery processing
• Multiple product attributes and grades
• Retailer-specific packing and labelling
• Produce industry-specific quality management
• Integration with agronomists’ systems

The buying power of the major retailers has resulted in a small number of key produce processors acting as consolidators, sourcing packed produce from smaller operations. TROPOS supports the triangulation of order management and documentation where orders are taken by the consolidator, goods are shipped by the supplier to the RDC, and invoices are raised and processed by the consolidator.