Heiploeg obtains its shrimp and prawns from suppliers from the whole world, including the small brown shrimp but also the large giant tiger prawn. Suppliers’ products must meet the base material specifications that Heiploeg has drawn up. Audits are regularly performed where the company’s own people or experts appointed by Heiploeg perform audits at supplier sites.

 

Heiploeg factory in Zoutkamp is by far the largest shrimp factory of Europe with its 160 metres in length and a surface area that measures 26,200 square metres.  Heiploeg has its own current generator with which a large part of the residual heat can be usefully used. This residual heat is supplemented by a steam system that can generate 12 tons of steam per hour for the various thawing, cooking and blanching processes. The company also has its own wastewater purification plant.

 

A total of seven refrigeration compressors with a total power of over 1500 kW provide the refrigeration for the whole building. The refrigeration for the company’s own freezing warehouse at the back of the building is also provided through these compressors where more than 6000 pallets with frozen shrimp are kept at -25˚C.

 

The factory has a number of remarkable features. Different hygiene classifications have, for example, been identified at the plant. To ensure that ready-made products are not contaminated, employees who work with raw products have different changing rooms and corridors than employees who work with cooked products.

 

It is also striking that the building is equipped with a first floor. Although it is not usual in the food processing business, the company consciously chose to implement a part of the production process on the first floor. Shrimp must be cooked and preserved on the first floor in order to guarantee quality when packaging. The use of elevating webs for the packaging process can thus be avoided.

 

The factory design underlines the character of the company, as Heiploeg likes to describe it as being a “well-considered modern” plant.

 

 

Heiploeg is part of the Heiploeg Group. Other companies in the group are Heitrans, BFG, Goldfish, Morubel, FGT, Dansk Heiploeg and TK Fish. Once shrimpers have fished the shrimp from the coastal waters of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom, their fast transportation service guarantees that the shrimp arrive at the production companies in an as fresh as possible state. Heiploeg has its own locations in these countries for these reasons.

 

The company’s multifunctional production facility contributes to the “value added product” range with which Heiploeg creates a broader base to better serve consumers in the whole of Europe.

 

 

The company holds certifications ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BRC (Bristish Retail Consortium), IFS, MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practice), GlobalGAP membership 2009, Skal and HACCP  (Hard Analysis & Critical Control Points) among others.

 

Heiploeg has built up and strengthened its position as market leader through the years. More than a century of experience and expertise in the field of shrimping and processing gives us a perfect foundation for constantly improved production methods and product innovations.

 

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