Customer Services
With 25 years experience of almost every aspect of herbal ingredient supply, from agricultural production through to international commodity trading and the creation of branded products, Organic Partners can deliver a comprehensive and professional customer service.Over and above the provision of ingredients, we are able to assist in all aspects of supply chain management:
• Procurement - we have a huge sourcing database and will endeavour to find any ingredient on behalf of our customers
• Contract farming - an extensive choice of products from different geographic areas
• Traceability - management of crop production through processing to semi-finished product
• Organic issues and certification - through an involvement with standard setting and our experience as a long-term organic licensee for growing, processing, packing, manufacturing and distributing.
• Fair trade issues and certification - information from the most up to date working group policies.
• Logistics - organising all aspects of transportation.
• Warehousing - in the UK, the USA and as required
• Product development - with our intimate knowledge of what is new within the sector we can assist with all aspects of NPD.
• Quality Assurance and Technical Support - knowledge of industry standards and access to specialist laboratories
METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION
Organic Partners has the flexibility to distribute its products by whatever means is most appropriate. In particular we are looking to keep the distance that product travels to a minimum, not only to reduce costs but also to work towards reducing the carbon footprint of our sales.
We operate in the following ways:
• We ship containers of single or mixed products, or part loads, from source direct to the customer
• Hold stock on behalf of producer partners for distribution from a UK base.
• Trade with producers, traders, agents etc.
• Source and contract raw materials and finished products.
• Pre-contract crops on behalf of customers or for our stock.
• Bring key ingredients into the UK for consolidation of shipments to a third party
Direct shipment
One of the unique elements of Organic Partners supply strategy is that much of our business involves shipment of product directly from the producer to the customer. Protectiveness of source often leads to inefficiencies in the management of the supply chain in typical trading scenarios. Through the transparent nature of our relationships with producers, Organic Partners is able to provide a much greater openness, shipment to the customer being made without the necessity of it coming via an intermediary.
Direct shipment also ensures considerable savings on shipping costs and delivery times whilst also relieving the burden of storage, logistics and much of the administration. Additionally, buyers are able, through their access to the producer, to ensure that their exact requirements are met as well as benefiting from the marketing opportunities provided by the known provenance of the product.
Shipment from UK
Some key ingredients are shipped by container to our UK warehouse from where we can more effectively distribute to buyers requiring smaller quantities. Additionally we bring product into the UK so that we can act as a distribution point for customers, consolidating several products from diverse countries of origin.
Quantities
To maintain efficiency in distribution, we usually work to the following minimum volumes:
•Dry goods - 500 kg
•Fats - 500 kg
•Hydrosol - 500 litres
•Essential Oils - depending on value
•Fixed oils - 1 drum
•CO2 extracts - depending on value
•Dry extracts - 50 kg
•Liquid extracts - depending on specification
However, we always endeavour to meet our customer requirements and will provide smaller quantities where feasible.