Since Wilfried Wirtz's entry, Franz Wirtz GmbH in Bornheim has slowly but surely been developing into a modern transport service provider. Today, the forwarding company offers tailor-made solutions for Europe-wide transport logistics: from sensitive foods to high-quality electronics and consumer goods to pharmaceutical products. Nonetheless, 50 percent of its revenues are still from fresh food logistics, which is why the GmbH is one of the leading suppliers in this area. Despite the many challenges in today's transport sector, Mr Wirtz certainly sees a place in the market for his company.
Quality standards and flexibility
The company currently has over 100 employees, a high-tech transfer warehouse with a surface area of 1,000 m2 and integrated cold stores, as well as a very modern vehicle fleet. Specifically in the fresh sector, the traditional GmbH serves a mixed clientele of (producer) cooperatives, independent producers, exporters and importers, logisticians and wholesalers, regionally and internationally.
"In addition to the just-in-time procurement of goods, we also deal with the disposition and labeling of fresh products as needed. However, everything happens at the same location in Bornheim," said Wirtz.
There is usually a peak between April and the end of October, when local fresh specialties like soft fruit are arriving on the market in large quantities. Regardless of the season, the company is struggling with a significant shortage of skilled personnel. "We need employees who understand the business, the process, quality standards and know what it is to be flexible. These are harder and harder to find. Inevitably, we have started employing workers from all over Europe."
Difficult infrastructure
In addition to the constant shortage of skilled workers, there are also more and more challenges in terms of infrastructure. According to Wirtz, however, it is a cross-border problem, because outside of the Cologne area -whether in other urban areas of Germany or at the major transport hubs in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands- these obstacles have to be taken into account nowadays. "We try to drive at night when possible, so that we have passed through Cologne before 7.00 clock, before the rush hour. However, there is no real solution to these problems; it never gets any easier."
Promising future
Compared to these difficulties, thanks to the high-tech cooling technology, today many sensitive products can be easily transported from A to B without damage or spoilage. "We can adjust these high-tech cooling and heating devices to the transported goods. Other tech that really helps us are the modern telematics or the GPS systems." The experienced managing director sees a promising future for his company, also with regard to the existing, successful cooperation with corresponding partners. "The market is becoming increasingly focused, which is why there are no new sales markets. In contrast, the existing market leaders are becoming more specialized: as we are a specialist in transporting these goods, we are well prepared for the future."
