Case study
Citrus and grape exporter cuts rejected containers
A citrus and table grape grower-packer that also packs for about 20 outside growers cut rejected export containers from three a season to one and mock recall time from 6 hours to 15 minutes.
Free setup & training · Human support by named fresh produce consultants
At a glance
Export containers rejected3 → 1 per season
Mock recall≈ 6 hours → ≈ 15 minutes
Retailer audit preparation≈ 40 → ≈ 8 hours
Grower pack-out queries15 → 3 h/week in season
The challenge
- QC results sat in the inspection module while loading crews worked from the shipping list – failed pallets could be loaded
- Each rejected container cost about AU$60,000 in fruit, freight and claims
- Mock recalls took about 6 hours; audit preparation about a week
- Growers phoned daily for pack-outs – about 15 hours a week of office time
- Out-of-spec grower fruit packed without claims because evidence was hard to find
The solution
- QC results and photos for every pallet on a container checked before sealing
- Instant alerts to quality and dispatch when an inspection fails
- Lot search shows grower, pack date, QC and every customer and pallet – including in transit
- Pack-out summaries e-mailed to growers from Pak-Bot
- Inspection evidence pulled up by grower and delivery for supplier claims
Want results like these in your business?
Get recall-ready in minutesResults
| Benefit | Estimate | Annual value |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer rejected containers | 2 × ≈ AU$60,000 | AU$120,000 |
| Supplier claims recovered | Out-of-spec deliveries claimed with evidence | AU$35,000 |
| Grower query time | 12 h/week × 26 weeks × AU$50/h | AU$15,600 |
| Faster audits and recalls | 87 h × AU$50/h | AU$4,350 |
| Total | AU$174,950 |
Related
- Fresh produce export softwareExport software for fresh produce: QC checked at the dock before the container is sealed, failed pallets held, export…
- Produce traceability software with recalls in minutesProduce traceability software that records every lot automatically from grower to customer. Forward and backward traces…
- AI quality inspection across seven packhousesA grower-packer of 36 short-shelf-life crops cut inspection time 70% (14.5 to 4.35 min per sample) and reached 99.8% AI…
- Multi-site vegetable packer halves stock write-offsA three-site potato, onion and carrot packer cut reporting from 14 to 3 hours a week and stock write-offs from 3.5% to…
- Produce wholesaler speeds up orders and cuts berry wasteA berry, leafy greens and herb wholesaler cut order entry from 8 to 2 hours a day, dumped stock from 6% to 3.5% and…
Sources and further reading
Questions
Is this a real Producepak customer?
Yes. Results are as published by Producepak; some customers asked for their names to be withheld.
How were the savings estimated?
From the before-and-after figures in the table, using the rates shown. They are the customer's estimates, not guarantees.