Coccinelle is a leading fresh produce wholesaler in Belgium, with operations centered in Sint-Katelijne-Waver near Antwerp. As they began to scale and expand into the Netherlands, the company became increasingly aware of the limits of conventional quality control processes. They needed a streamlined, scalable solution for inspections, particularly for their high-volume products like bananas, grapes, and cauliflowers.
Before partnering with Clarifresh, Coccinelle had relied on manual workflows for quality assessment, using Excel spreadsheets or written notes. Inspectors recorded defects on paper, later transferring them into digital formats. The inefficiency that this involved led to delays in reporting. It also made proactive quality management difficult.
When we had to inspect produce, we first wrote everything down and then later transferred it to Excel. It was slow and difficult to manage. – Johan Eykens, Coccinelle’s Quality Manager.
In search of a more modern approach, Coccinelle explored digital quality control solutions and discovered Clarifresh. They were impressed by the results that large fresh produce organizations had achieved with Clarifresh, so they decided to explore it for themselves.
The Solution: AI-Powered Inspections with Clarifresh
By integrating Clarifresh into their operations, Coccinelle significantly optimized the inspection workflow, replacing outdated manual reporting with real-time, digital assessments.
Key Benefits:
- Time Savings: Clarifresh reduced inspection time by 50–60%, allowing inspectors to record assessments directly on tablets or smartphones.
- Customization & Flexibility: The platform enabled Coccinelle to tailor inspection criteria to specific client needs, prioritizing key defect types.
- Color-Coded Reports: Instead of relying on numerical data alone, Coccinelle implemented a universal color system: green for good, red for defects. This made it easier to communicate findings across teams and suppliers.
- Gone are the days of juggling paperwork and clunky spreadsheets. With Clarifresh, Coccinelle’s entire inspection process now fits in the palm of their hands, literally. Inspectors can record assessments directly on their phones or tablets, streamlining workflows and eliminating the need for manual data entry. The result is faster and more accurate reporting that keeps quality control moving as fast as their supply chain.
“For us, Clarifresh has been a lifesaver. It’s just so easy to use,” said Johan. “We can also tailor it for our own use. It’s easy to implement different factors or kinds of defects that are more important for our clients.”
Real-World Impact: Improved Claim Management and Supplier Collaboration
One of the immediate impacts of using Clarifresh was in claim management. By leveraging Clarifresh’s detailed digital reports, Coccinelle could substantiate quality issues more effectively when submitting claims to suppliers.
“Whenever we have a report that ends with a red color, we use it as supporting documentation in claim letters to our suppliers. It makes the issue clear and helps them understand exactly what went wrong,” Johan explained.
With better data-backed reporting, Coccinelle can now communicate more efficiently with suppliers, providing them with detailed insights to improve their own quality control processes.
Looking Ahead: Leveraging Analytics for Long-Term Quality Improvements
While Coccinelle has already seen tremendous efficiency gains, they are just beginning to explore the full potential of Clarifresh’s analytics. As they gather more data, they anticipate using the platform to identify recurring trends and proactively address quality issues.
“We’ve been using it for less than a year, so the real impact will become clearer over time. In a year, we’ll have a better picture of which suppliers and commodities show the most frequent issues, helping us make smarter sourcing decisions,” Johan noted.
Clarifresh: Quality Control at Your Fingertips
For companies like Coccinelle, the benefits of AI-powered quality control go beyond the impressive efficiency gains that come from giving inspectors a way to automate their work at scale. These benefits touch every aspect of their business, including profitability and supplier relations.
Clarifresh has already helped Coccinelle reduce inspection times, streamline claims processes, and standardize reporting across their operations. As they continue collecting and analyzing quality data, the future promises even greater improvements in quality assurance and operational efficiency.
Start your free trial of Clarifresh today to discover how we can help your business stay ahead in fresh produce quality management.
