COOK Trading and the benefits of plastic containers

Goplasticboxes.com, the UK’s leading independent supplier of plastic pallets and containers, has enabled COOK Trading Ltd in Sittingbourne, to reduce costs, increase production and lighten the backbreaking load on employees – all thanks to plastic containers.

In April 2011, after seeing advertisements for Goplasticboxes.com and following the company’s recommendations, COOK Trading Ltd switched from metal trays to plastic containers to store their raw ingredients ready for production in their homemade frozen meals. Since then they have placed three orders with Goplasticboxes.com totalling 276 GoBox 5035 food containers in grey and 27 custom-made double dollies.

The switch from metal trays to plastic containers has had a dramatic result on the business saving almost £4,000 on the order, helping to increase production and reducing the weight of loads, a fact much appreciated by the food preparation team as they load, unload and transport the goods.

Tony Mayer, Procurement Manager at COOK Trading Ltd, said: “Between 10 and 15kg of raw ingredients is typically placed on each tray and the maximum weight we place on a dolly is about 120kg. The metal trays added unnecessary weight to a heavy load.

“We met with Russell Smith, Business Development Manager at Goplasticboxes.com and he explained that plastic containers are more hygienic, durable, lighter and cheaper than metal trays. It was more cost-effective to opt for plastic containers. We needed to use a food grade container that was sturdy and safe for our staff to use so he recommended the GoBox 5035 food container which both stacks and nests and has smooth straight walls making it easy to clean. The first proof of its cost-effectiveness became apparent almost immediately – had we purchased the same volume in metal trays it would have cost an extra £3,800.

“We also required double dollies but we needed them with brakes as our production site has food grade floors that have a very slight breakaway to the centre of the room for assisting in cleaning and sanitising. We had to ensure that the double dollies did not move when stationary. Goplasticboxes.com took this on board and designed the custom-made double dollies with a brake castor to meet our needs.

“From the first meeting when Russell understood exactly what we needed and quoted a keen price with quick lead-times, to the present day, the customer service has been excellent. That is why we are still using the company today.”