The Greenery

Healthy is More2010 Sustainability Report

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ContentsForeword 3

Sustainable entrepreneurship at The Greenery 4

Healthy cultivation 7

Healthy innovation 13

Healthy variation 16

Healthy communication 19

Healthy business operations 23

Healthy employees 27

Looking ahead: ‘Healthy is More’ in 2011 31

The Greenery at a glance 32

The supply chain in focus 35

Other information 37

GRI table 38

More information 41

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Foreword

Our sustainability programme is based on our

sustainability strategy, ‘Healthy is More’. The

programme’s objectives and initiatives are spread

across five focus areas: Healthy Cultivation,

Healthy Innovation, Healthy Variation, Healthy

Communication, Healthy Business Operations and

Healthy Employees. This sustainability report

describes the steps we have taken over the past

year to achieve our goals, with inspiring case studies

bringing our work to life.

As we look back on 2010, there are a number of

results we can be particularly proud of. Our headline

achievement is the lead we are taking in building

close links in the supply chain by matching customers

wherever possible to individual growers. This allows

customers to know who grew a particular product

and how. It also means that fresh products, harvested

to order, can be transported quickly and efficiently

to the relevant customer. Meanwhile, our growers

are doing their bit to increase the sustainability of

their fruit and vegetable cultivation. In 2010, The

Greenery began awarding the Nature Counts quality

label to growers who demonstrate outstanding

sustainability.

We constantly work with our growers to develop

and market unique and innovative products, services

and concepts that best serve consumer demand.

This allows us to keep increasing the variety on offer

on store shelves. Fruit, vegetables and mushrooms

are all cornerstones of a healthy diet. It is parti­

cularly important that children eat enough fruit

and vege tables. At The Greenery we feel it is our

job to encourage this. That, is why we introduced

products such as ‘Fred & Ed’ branded vegetables

and snack fruit this year and continued our school

fruit programme.

We achieved all this partly thanks to the input of

growers and enthusiastic staff members. Their invol­

vement helps us advance the sustainability of our

operations year after year. That is why we invest

in developing our staff too. We are proud that

The Greenery’s trainee programme was named Best

Traineeship 2010 by Nobiles Media, a graduate

careers fair.

If you have any suggestions or comments about

our sustainability policies, you can contact us at

duurzaamheid@thegreenery.com

The Greenery works with Dutch and foreign growers to supply the highest quality

fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) to a huge range of global customers all year round.

2010 has been a year of change both within our organisation and the sector as a whole,

but that has not stopped us from improving the sustainability of our operations.

Being a trailblazing organisation in terms of sustainability has helped us continue

to meet the demands of our customers.

Ir. Albert KnolFinance Director The Greenery B.V.

Ir. Philip SmitsGeneral Manager The Greenery B.V.

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Sustainable entrepreneurship

at The GreeneryThe Greenery wants to be a trailblazer in sustainability,

both in terms of its own operations and in the business

guidance it provides to growers. Our aim is always to strike

a balance between people, planet and profit, to ensure

long-term sustainability.

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The Greenery is a leading player in the international

market for fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. As such

it has certain obligations, primarily in providing

consumers with daily supplies of a wide range of

healthy, tasty, fresh products.

Every aspect of our services are guided by the

principles of sustainability and this Sustainability

Report provides numerous examples of this. Health is

the common denominator: healthy people, a healthy

environment, a healthy economy.

The Greenery set objectives for each of those focus

areas in 2010 and will be building on them in 2011.

The objectives will be focused on further embedding

sustainability into the organisation.

Communicating with stakeholdersThe Greenery sees sustainability as an ongoing process

and we want to keep raising the bar. This process

takes place through communication with stake holders,

which include our own staff, growers within the

Netherlands and abroad, customers and other stake­

holders in civic society. These relationships all ensure

that we consider the interests of customers and other

parties as we carry out our work. In terms of service

delivery, our focus is on growers and customers. The

Greenery maintains close relationships with customers.

Our day­to­day contact with them includes listening

to their ideas, demands and interests.

In terms of sustainable innovation, we also often

work with seed­enhancement companies on the

development of new varieties and products. The

Greenery also values communication with other, less

direct stakeholders in the process of cultivation, such

as banks.

Our sustainability strategy, Healthy is More, also

highlights issues and themes that affect customers

and growers. Furthermore, The Greenery also carries

out twice­yearly surveys amongst staff and growers

to gauge satisfaction with the company’s services

and business operations.

Sustainability strategyThe Greenery’s sustainability strategy is made up of the following focus areas:

Healthy Cultivation

To us a healthy crop is a sustain able crop. If it is good for nature, it is good for people.

Healthy Business

Operations

Sustainability helps to create a healthy business at every level.

Profit is a valid part of this, as well as the planet and people.

Healthy Communication

We use a variety of communication initiatives to encourage healthy choices.

• Vitapauze• Appealing shelf

displays• Healthy eating

guidance

Healthy Variation

A wide product range provides a mix of healthy nutrients, such as fibre, vitamins and minerals. We value special varieties that maximise these healthy nutrients.

Healthy Innovation

We respond to con sumers’ changing dietary habits through innovations in our business operations and packaging. Examples: • Introduction of

snack fruit• Reducing

packaging• Harvesting robot

Healthy is moreWe are transparent about our cultivation methods and healthy initiatives

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The Greenery actively works with a range of orga­

nisa tions to encourage the growth of sustainable

entrepreneurship. We regularly discuss national and

European issues with other players in the sector, such

as partner organisations in the GroentenFruit Bureau,

the Dutch national fruit/vegetable marketing organi­

sation. Other platforms for discussing sustainability

include the DPA (an industry body for buyers of fruit,

vegetables and mushrooms) and Freshfel (the

Europe­wide industry body). The Greenery also has

links with the European Food Safety Authority

through the individual working groups of these

organisations.

In 2011 The Greenery will be participating in the

Sustain able Business Initiative, a multi­stakeholder

platform for building sustainability in international

supply chains.

One important aspect of our consultation with civil

society organisations is the issue of crop protection.

Customers, particularly supermarkets, are setting

increasingly high standards in this area, and organi­

sations such as Stichting Natuur en Milieu (the

Netherlands Society for Nature and Environment) and

Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)

expect The Greenery to do its bit.

Future plans

The Greenery wants to be a trailblazer in sustainability,

both in terms of its own operations and in the business

guidance it gives to growers. Our long­term ambition is to

maintain our position in the top 10 of the ‘transparency’

benchmark in the ‘food and drink’ category. To do so, our

future plans will include the following:

• Every year, The Greenery will open a dialogue with

three stakeholders about a socially relevant issue.

• The Greenery will review its sustainability strategy and

associated objectives twice yearly.

• The Greenery will report on 2011 in accordance with

level B of the GRI.

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Healthy CultivationThere is great public interest in the safety and quality of

products, labour conditions and environmental protection.

The Greenery works to encourage ongoing sustainability in

cultivation. We acknowledge the importance of innovation

amongst growers and reward it through the Nature Counts

quality label. The Greenery works with growers and

customers to achieve healthy, safe and transparent supply

chains. Close cooperation in the supply chain is a good way

of building sustainability.

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Reliable supplierWe have noticed that customers are increasingly

stipulating specific demands around food safety and

assurances. Customers demand transparency at every

stage, right through to the growers. The Greenery has

a proactive policy on food safety to ensure that we can

continue to be a reliable supplier to our customers.

The quality and environment department provides

assurances on quality and food safety and monitors

growers and their distribution processes from the

field or greenhouse right through to the supermarket

shelf. Our policy is based on the requirement that

growers should at least be GlobalGap certified and

that products are cultivated in accordance with

statutory rules and comply with legal maximum

residue levels (MRL). We attach great importance to

providing guidance and information to growers

around food safety and sustainability. We do this

through regular collaboration with experts in crop

protection and supervision.

The Greenery is aware of the growing number of

certifi cation schemes and protocols that retailers

expect their suppliers to comply with and in 2010 we

acted on this to ensure that The Greenery meets the

quality standards expected by international retail

customers. Examples include:

• The QS system (Qualität und Sicherheit) which

became increasingly important to German customers

in 2010. The Greenery has actively responded to

this through its work with 50 growers who achieved

QS certification in 2010.

• TFMS (Tesco Food Manufacturing Standard) is the

quality and sustainability standard used by the

British retail chain Tesco. The Greenery achieved the

highest score under this scheme in 2010 at its

Zaltbommel site.

By responding to the wide range of demands made

by international customers, particularly supermarkets,

The Greenery is constantly building on its knowledge,

experience and expertise around various quality

systems, safety assurances and certifications.

Certified quality assurance

The Greenery’s sites meet the requirements of IFS, BRC

and QS standards and are certified accordingly. All

of our sites also met the RIK (Reglement Interne

Kwaliteits controle) standard in 2010. This quality control

standard is administered by the Dutch quality control

bureau for the fruit and vegetable sector, the KCB.

The Greenery has an environmental management

system in place that meets the requirements of ISO

14001. In addition to internal audits, the certifying

body SGS performs annual evaluations to ascertain

that the sites are still meeting certification

requirements.

Social conditionsThere is an emerging trend for customers, such as

supermarkets, to make increasing demands with

respect to the social aspects of production. Their

concern is around labour conditions for permanent

and temporary workers in the cultivation sector and

how those conditions can be assured and improved.

Traceability

Quality management and traceability go hand in hand.

The entire supply chain is focused on achieving optimal

product quality. Should there still be an incident, it is cru­

cial to quickly identify a product's origin and distribution.

Tracking and tracing make that possible, by systemati­

cally recording a product’s complete journey through the

chain. In the event of an incident, The Greenery can pro­

vide information within four hours on the origin of a pro­

duct and the materials used during its cultivation, as pres­

cribed by the General Food Law.

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These issues, including include health and safety,

remuneration, and employees' rights matter to The

Greenery too.

BSCI

In 2010 The Greenery announced its intention to take

part in the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI).

This international initiative to improve working condi­

tions is particularly important for products sourced

from abroad. The Greenery wants to supply its

products under BSCI terms by 2012 at the latest.

Major foreign suppliers have been notified of this.

The Greenery expects its growers to operate in accor­

dance with the International Labour Organisation’s

(ILO) code of conduct and the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights. The ILO has set out four main objec­

tives: advancing the right to work, improving work

opportunities for men and women, implementing

and expanding social security and improving social

dialogue between employers, employees and gover­

nment. The Greenery will start work on this through

BSCI in 2011.

Sedex

Many of The Greenery´s customers are members of

Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), a knowledge

centre for measuring and improving ethically respon­

sible enterprise. Sedex's work includes monitoring

growers' records in areas such as social conditions,

human rights, freedom of association and fair wages.

A number of The Greenery’s customers demand that

the growers who supply them provide information

on these issues. In 2010, The Greenery made sure the

Sedex database remained up to date. The number

of participating growers has risen to 116 and is

continuing to increase.

Fairtrade

The Greenery is certified to

package and distribute Fair­

trade products. In 2010 we

started a research project to

improve our understanding of

the market for these products,

including the possibility of supplying products directly

to The Greenery. The results of this will be evaluated

in 2011. Fairtrade focuses on producers in developing

countries and is particularly concerned with fair pri­

ces, market access, reducing poverty and improving

social conditions.

Nature CountsOur Nature Counts quality label

showcases to customers and con­

sumers the efforts made by our

growers in the area of sustain­

ability. To qualify for the Nature

Counts label, a grower will neces­

sarily be a trailblazer in sustainability. The main areas

of focus are energy, crop protection, nature and

landscape, transparency, waste, water and employ­

ees. The first Nature Counts sustainability labels were

awarded to growers in 2010 by a jury of independent

experts.

Nature Counts was given a high­profile launch in April

2010 at a sustainability symposium organised by The

Greenery specially for growers, customers and other

interested parties.

The Greenery hopes that putting the spotlight on

what these growers have achieved will encourage

other growers to increase the sustainability of

their business operations. The emphasis is on

innovative entrepreneurialism leading to increased

sustainability.

Three companies were awarded the Nature Counts

label in 2010, and it is hoped that more will receive it

in 2011.

www.naturecounts.com

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Geothermal heat

The tomato company A+G van den Bosch was the first

to be awarded a Nature Counts quality label. A+G van

den Bosch uses geothermal heat instead of natural

gas which has enabled it to reduce its energy use

by 90%. This was an important innovation for the

greenhouse horticulture sector as A+G van den Bosch

was the first horticultural business to make use of

geothermal heat. The company has built up a lot of

expertise and is sharing it with others in the sector.

Resilient cultivators

The tomato company Van Noord received the Nature

Counts quality label for its innovations in the area of

plant resilience. Greenhouse infestations are largely

dealt with through the use of natural predators. That

approach is not yet effective for moulds, however,

which still need crop protection agents. Van Noord

developed a system to make plants more resilient,

focusing closely on the condition of the plant's roots.

This led to a 90% reduction in the use of fungal treat­

ments. The secret lies in the style of cultivation,

which aims to maximise plant health and resilience

rather than yield.

The GreenCo tomato company has also made signi­

ficant advances in making plants resistant to moulds.

It uses plant strengtheners and benign moulds that

compete with harmful moulds in the soil to improve

the plant’s vitality. This method, combined with natural

methods of pest reduction, results in a very clean

product and has made GreenCo a market leader in

producing residue­free crops. The company is also

looking at other aspects of sustainability by mini­

mising water and energy inputs.

http://www.naturecounts.com/telers/4 http://www.naturecounts.com/telers/21 http://www.naturecounts.com/telers/22

Tomato company A+G van den Bosch. Tomato company Van Noord. Tomato company GreenCo.

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Organic cultivationThe Greenery’s range includes organically grown

fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. Naturelle, The

Greenery’s organic arm, specialises in organic fruits

and vegetables and has close working relationships

with regular suppliers.

Consumer demand for organic products continues to

increase. Sales of organic fruit and vegetables are

growing at a faster rate than those of standard products,

increasing by more than 11% in the Netherlands in

2010. The Bio+ retail brand is the fastest growing

brand in the Netherlands, recording a total growth of

30% in 2010. Naturelle, as a certified licence holder,

is the exclusive supplier of all fruit and vegetables to

this brand. In 2010, the partnership between Naturelle

and the foundation behind the Bio+ brand name was

developed further.

Organic growers use only natural raw materials,

cultivate in the ground and use only organic crop

protection methods. Naturelle constantly looks for

ways to improve its sustainability. Organic Fairtrade

fruit is now included in its range, and many products

are sold in biodegradable packaging. Sustainability

is relevant to its business operations too. Waste is

separated, and an organic dairy farmer uses the fruit

and vegetable waste to feed his cattle.

Naturelle made a major effort in 2010 to com­

municate the stories behind organic products. The

new website www.natuurlijknaturelle.nl emphasises

those stories, which have also been shared via Twitter

and in news releases. On the website, Naturelle’s

growers tell the stories behind their organic products,

which helps create a link between growers and

customers.

Food Chain ProjectsThe Greenery’s growers are committed to minimising

their use of crop protection agents. The Greenery

works with various parties throughout the supply

chain in its efforts to reduce the use of crop protec­

tion agents without compromising quality. In 2010,

The Greenery worked with its growers to carry out a

number of trials around minimising the use of crop

protection agents, and to raise awareness amongst

growers about what they should be focusing on and

where they might make improvements. We also

organised briefing sessions for growers.

As of 2008, The Greenery has been one of a number

of organisations leading on international food chain

projects in this area. These are all unique projects in

which parties in the fruit and vegetable supply chain

aim to reduce the use of crop protection agents and

work together to monitor cultivation. Besides various

projects in the Netherlands, The Greenery has been

involved in projects with citrus fruit, grape and melon

Naturelle grower Aldo van Os.

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growers and suppliers of crop protection agents in

Spain, Italy, Uruguay and Brazil.

A number of special programmes were launched in 2010:

• In 2010 and 2011, The Greenery is working with

growers, a crop protection agent manufacturer and

a consultancy on an extensive trial with deciduous

fruits and currants. The aim is to reduce the level of

residues in the final product both in terms of quan­

tity and value so that growers can meet market

demands over and above statutory requirements.

Any growers that do need to use crop protection

agents will do so with the greatest care, and as

little as possible.

• A trial involving two pear growers and an apple

grower is looking at how to make plants more

resilient. Working with a supplier of crop protection

agents and fertilisers, the trial is attempting to

optimise foliage dressing.

Carbon footprintCarbon footprints are one way of measuring sustain­

ability. In 2010, the measurability of carbon footprints

within the fruit and vegetable sector for growers,

customers (particularly British supermarkets) and

researchers was a hot topic. The Greenery has used

its own algorithm to calculate its carbon footprint for

cucumbers, tomatoes and mushrooms. We worked

with the agricultural industry body Productschap

Tuinbouw and the Landbouw Economisch Instituut

(Agricultural Economics Institute) to develop a method

that was trialled amongst growers in 2009.

A lot of work is being done to come up with the

necessary international agreement on how to perform

calculations. Our aim is to work with customers and

growers to achieve a workable, clear and acceptable

method of measurement. The Greenery is working with

a large Dutch supermarket chain, for instance, on ways

of making sustainability objectively measureable.

Data on water, energy, fertilisers and crop protection

agents are all an important part of that.

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Cultivation

The Greenery works with growers and customers to

achieve healthy, safe and transparent supply chains.

We acknowledge the importance of innovation amongst

growers and recognise this through the Nature Counts

quality label. Close cooperation in the supply chain is a

good way of building sustainability. The Greenery’s long­

term goal is to manage a reliable and transparent system

of supply chain responsibility.

The following objectives have been set out to make that

goal a reality:

• Every year The Greenery will award 5­10 new growers

the Nature Counts quality label.

• In 2011 all of The Greenery's growers will meet the new

Global Gap certification requirements.

• In 2012 The Greenery's regular foreign suppliers will

start to supply in compliance with BSCI standards.

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Healthy InnovationConstant innovation is essential if we are to serve customers

well, maintain our markets and expand. Innovation is relevant

to the entire production and sales process – from new products

to new cultivation methods, different packaging, more efficient

logistics and new market concepts. At every stage, this process

is led by customer and consumer demand.

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Innovation steering groupThe ‘innovation steering group’, an internal working

group within The Greenery, is focused on encouraging

innovation within the organisation and its growers.

The steering group is made up of the general manager

and those heading the Sourcing NL, Greenery Benelux,

quality and environment, and marketing units. Two

innovation managers work with the product managers

on innovations at product group level. The Greenery

is also part of Frisblik, the sector­wide consultative

group on innovation. We also attend trade fairs and

conferences and maintain useful contacts to ensure

we remain up to date on innovative developments.

Cooperation with seed-enhancement companiesIt is important to have a good working relationship

with seed­enhancement companies to develop new

market­oriented plant varieties and make growers

aware of what those varieties can deliver. One

example of this kind of cooperation between agricultural

companies, growers and The Greenery is the work

that has been done on long­life pointed cabbage. This

tasty, crisp, cabbage with a long shelf­life is the result

of long­term cooperation. Its year­round availability

has provided an opportunity to increase its market share.

This reduces dependence on overseas products.

Briefing sessions are held regularly to raise aware­

ness of these varieties amongst growers. One such

event in November 2010 focused on brussels sprouts,

and explained some of the specific characteristics of

varieties and developments in cultivation practices.

Innovation with asparagus and brussels sproutsAsparagus is a typically seasonal product with supply

heavily dependent on the weather. The Greenery has

placed temperature logging devices in asparagus

beds for a number of growers, to help make supply

predictions. This makes it possible to predict when a

particular variety is due to grow and enables peak

harvest time to be ascertained in advance. That

knowledge makes The Greenery better prepared to

act according to the volume of harvested asparagus it

can send to market.

The Greenery has set up a trial field with asparagus

grower Walter Gubbels, with twelve different varieties

of green asparagus and ten varities of white asparagus.

The varieties were carefully selected by The Greenery

and its growers following visits to England and Italy.

Measurements and tests are carried out in the trial

field every day to help select the perfect variety. This

has led to a top­quality green asparagus being

identified.

Following years of research, 2010 saw the first com­

mercially significant harvest of a mild brussels sprout

developed by the agricultural company Syngenta.

The mild sprouts are 75% less bitter and research

panels have indicated a preference for them over the

classic variety. Growing these new varieties means it

is possible to supply mild sprouts for the entire season.

The Greenery introduced them to its customers during

the 2010/2011 winter season.

Temperature logging devices in asparagus beds.

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Exclusive varietiesThe Greenery supports the growth of exclusive, new

and different varieties tailored to the demands of our

customers and of consumers. Examples include:

• The Sweet Sensation: a pear variety with an attractive

red blush and an exceptionally sweet flavour.

The Greenery provides its retail customers with a

competitive edge by offering this variety. The

pears are grown both in Europe and in the southern

hemisphere to enable a year­round supply of good

quality fruit. Exclusivity and top quality practices are

key if growers are to receive a better price for their

crops. Sweet Sensation is one of ten nominations

for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2011.

• In 2010 The Greenery introduced the Dazzling Gold:

a golden pear with a surprising flavour. This variety

will be produced in the Netherlands, France and in

the southern hemisphere.

• In the soft fruit sector, the Brilliance raspberry and

Valor strawberry are exclusive varieties that satisfy

customer demand in terms of flavour, shelf­life and

year­round availability.

• In 2010 The Greenery acquired exclusive rights

to produce the new Italian Sant Orsola raspberry

varieties in the Netherlands and to sell them

around the world. These varieties are tasty, very

high yielding, with large fruits and a long

shelf­life.

Wageningen ChairThe Greenery and seed­enhancement company Rijk

Zwaan jointly support the five­year ‘Fresh Innovation’

Chair at Wageningen University and Research Centre.

The two parties supervise scientific research aimed at

gaining an insight into the effects of cultivation and

post­harvest processes on the quality of products,

including shelf­life, flavour and health. In 2010 research

was carried out on the effect of new cultivation

methods on the quality of tomatoes, including the use

of semi­closed greenhouses. Research into the effect of

light on the shelf­life of lettuce varieties after they are

cut and on the ‘ready­to­eat mango’ to better determine

the ripeness of a mango has also been carried out.

Restaurant of the FutureThe Restaurant of the Future is a project in which

Wageningen University and catering and ICT specialists

research visitor behaviour under controlled conditions.

This involves monitoring the effects of interiors, ligh­

ting, presentation, layout, packaging and food labels.

These factors all influence the choices that consumers

make. The Greenery’s participation in the Restaurant

of the Future provides information which is used

to come up with innovative concepts as well as in

marketing and category management.

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Innovation

Ongoing innovation is essential if we are to serve customers

well, maintain our markets and expand. Innovation is

relevant to the entire supply chain – from new products

to new cultivation methods, different packaging, more

efficient logistics, and new market concepts. Any inno­

vation is always based on customer demand. The

Greenery’s long­term goal is to encourage innovation in

the FFV supply chain by setting up partnerships between

growers, seed companies, research organisations and

customers.

• In 2011 The Greenery will be formulating performance

indicators to measure our progress towards this goal.

• In 2011 The Greenery will be working on improving and

developing three new market concepts that better

meet customer needs.

• In 2011 The Greenery will be working on improving and

developing three new plant varieties that better meet

customer needs.

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Healthy VariationScientific research has firmly established that vegetables,

fruits and mushrooms are healthy foods, all offering

their own particular mix of vitamins, minerals, fibres and

anti-oxidants. To benefit from that range of nutrients, it

is important that we eat a varied diet, whether at home

or in restaurants, canteens and schools. The Greenery

allows people to compose a varied diet by offering a wide

range of products.

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Variety: any time, any placeThe Greenery aims to offer the widest possible range

of products. We do this by adding new varieties to

our standard range of fruit and vegetables, and by

developing new products. For this purpose we have

special innovation programmes which are based

on the idea of responding to consumer demand.

The way products are packaged, cut, mixed and

combined can all make cooking easier. Besides

offering a variety of products, The Greenery also

offers a choice of produc tion methods, with organic

alternatives available across the range.

Tomato mixesCherry tomatoes are often sold as a packaged

product. The Tomato Mix concept allows supermarket

shoppers to create their own tomato mix and deter­

mine how much of each variety they want. The

promotio nal materials supplied by The Greenery to

supermarkets ensure that customers can clearly see

what their choices are. A large German supermarket

introduced the concept in 2010. This is an example of

how The Greenery is making it easier for consumers

to vary their diet and reduce waste.

Exotic productsThe market for exotic fruits and vegetables is growing.

The import company Hagé International has responded

to that demand through its new brand, Solentes. The

brand includes familiar exotic products along with

new ones such as mini mangos, buddha hands, rose

apples, sapodillas and edible flowers. The new Hagé

Exotics and Specialties division is building up all the

necessary expertise on production and logistics for

these products and ready to eat fruit.

Fred & EdIncreasing fruit and vegetable consumption can help

combat the growing problem of child obesity. That is

why The Greenery and Food Sense have teamed up

to help children (and adults) choose healthier snacks.

Fred & Ed are two characters taking the lead in this.

The launch of this scheme in 2010 was backed up by

various campaigns promoting Fred & Ed vegetables

and snack fruit (healthy fruits and vegetables in

colourful packages).

The range includes cherry tomatoes, mini peppers and

mini cucumbers, and is supplemented by snack fruit,

such as strawberries and blueberries that are only

available in summer. In late 2010 the range was awarded

the Super IntroAward by industry magazine Supermarkt

Actueel in the children’s products category.

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Rivas fruit programmeThe Greenery has a launched a large­scale fruit hand­out

scheme with the Rivas Zorggroep (a healthcare provider)

in the town of Gorinchem, designed to encourage

healthy eating patterns and combat obesity. The

scheme serves around 1,500 people daily. Staff,

patients and visitors at 20 Rivas Zorggroep nursing

homes, residential care homes and care facilities

receive free fruit every day.

School fruitThe Greenery’s own school fruit programme, Vitapauze,

has been running since 2009 and encourages healthy

eating habits amongst children. To promote the

scheme, every primary school in the district of West­

land was supplied with free fruit and vegetables for a

six­week period in 2010, introducing 10,000 children

to the Vitapauze programme.

The Greenery also made a big push for a national

school fruit programme in 2010. The Dutch version of

the School Fruit Programme launched in early 2011,

with EU funding. The programme saw pupils from

2,000 schools receive free school fruit for a period of

six weeks. The Greenery is one of the sponsors of the

programme, working with the agricultural industry

body Productschap Tuinbouw and the Ministry of

Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation.

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Variation

The Greenery allows people to choose a varied diet by

offering a wide range of products.

This is generating the following results:

• In 2011 3,000 children will be taking part in the National

School Fruit Programme.

• By 2013 the turnover of Fred & Ed’s vegetable and fruit

products will have doubled, partly through fruit

programmes in schools.

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Healthy CommunicationThe Greenery wants to encourage growers, customers and

consumers to make healthy choices. Communication plays

an important part in that. For example, we work with our

customers to ensure products are presented as attractively

as possible in the stores. We provide details about the origin

of our products through the www.verseoogst.nl website

which enables The Greenery to show that every product has

a story due to the cultivation methods, health aspects, or

uses of the product.

20

Nature CountsNature Counts is a way for The Greenery to encourage

growers to keep improving the sustainability of their

cultivation methods. Our Nature Counts quality label

showcases to customers and consumers the efforts

made by our growers around sustainability. The Greenery

awarded the first Nature Counts labels at two separate

awards events during 2010. These events included a

tour for media representatives of one of the companies

that was given the Nature Counts label. Short films on

www.naturecounts.nl allow The Greenery to tell the

story of these sustainability trailblazers. Our aim is to

increase the number of growers who hold the Nature

Counts quality label in 2011 and to actively communi­

cate that growth.

Fresh harvestConsumers are becoming increasingly aware of what

makes a healthy diet. People want to know exactly

what they will be eating and where it comes from

when they select from a range of FFV products.

The www.verseoogst.nl website makes it easy for

consumers to find out about products and growers.

The site has details on individual products and includes

recipes to help consumers prepare them. Traffic to the

site is increasing. The Greenery's objective with the

site is to add a human face to its groups of growers.

The Greenery gives growers a simple template which

they can use to make a website with information

about their company, products and cultivation

methods. The Greenery is proud of its growers, and

www.verseoogst.nl is a way of expressing that. The

site will be relaunched in 2011 with new features,

including social media applications.

Healthy choiceThe Greenery encourages consumers to make healthy

choices. We do this by working with our customers to

present products attractively in stores and also by

offering recipes. Packaging, special deals and promo­

tional sites play an important role in this approach.

In 2010, for instance, The Greenery was one of the

parties involved in a campaign around Fruit at Work,

delivered by the GroentenFruit Bureau, the Dutch

national fruit/vegetable marketing board.

The campaign promoted eating fruit at work and was

run at more than 200 railway stations around the

Netherlands. Fruit at Work used billboards, mega­

posters, flyers and free fruit to encourage the con­

sumption of fruit at work, and The Greenery was one

of the partners behind it. More details are available

at www.werkfruit.nu

Throughout 2010 The Greenery worked to encourage

people to eat healthy Dutch fruit and vegetables.

We presented Dutch products to people at various

public events including the Huishoudbeurs (a home

show), Libelle Zomerweek and Margriet Winter Fair.

21

Fresh produce in-store presentationFresh produce displays heavily influence the overall

image of a supermarket. Quality and good presen­

tation in the produce department are a way for

supermarkets to gain a competitive edge. Fresh

produce displays therefore require precise planning.

That is why there is increasing cooperation between

supermarkets and The Greenery’s specialists regar­

ding store layout, consumer group analysis, shopping

research and the translation of research results to the

shop floor. This enables supermarkets to respond to

trends such as the revival of traditional dishes and

eating at home.

Communication about increasing sustainability In 2010 The Greenery set up collaborative projects

with supermarket chains, using communication tools

to increase sustainability in the supply chain. For

instance, over the next few years a project with one

of our retail customers will use the new apple and

pear season as a hook to tell consumers more about

sustainability in the production chain. As part of the

project, every partner in the chain, from the grower

to the buying group, transporter, packager and super­

market, will critically assess their role and look at

areas where they can improve. The project will also

lead to further efficiencies in the chain and greater

cooperation between the various parties. “The know­

ledge that we collectively build up during this project

can be used to make other standard products more

sustainable,” says the fruit and vegetable unit manager

of a Dutch retail chain. This project will serve as a trial

for other products.

Healthy cooperationIn 2010 The Greenery supported a number of healthy

initiatives and good causes:

• The Food Bank: Unsold products, often regarded as

waste, are donated to the Food Bank for free. This

gives people living on a minimal income greater

access to healthy food.

• Kom in de Kas (Visit the Greenhouse): The largest public

event organised by the Dutch greenhouse horticulture

sector attracted around 165,000 visitors to its 33rd

event. A range of growers associated with The Greenery

opened their doors to the public that day.

• TomatoWorld: A visitor centre where groups of people

from companies, schools and elsewhere can come

and learn about the cultivation of tomatoes, variety

enhancement, growth and technical innovations

within the sector. TomatoWorld has an information

and education centre, a conference space and a

high­tech greenhouse where more than fifty dif­

ferent varieties of tomato are cultivated year round.

• Klas in de Kas (The Greenhouse Classroom): This

project, organised by the Westland Info Group for

Greenhouse Horticulture, aims to teach primary

school pupils aged 10­12 about life and work on a

fruit and vegetable farm.

22

Social investmentThe Greenery’s staff regularly take part in social

initiatives.

• The Greenery has taken part in Ride for The Roses

for a number of years. The ride is a 100km cycle tour

that raises funds for the KWF cancer charity and was

founded by the cycling champion Lance Armstrong.

In 2010 more than 100 of The Greenery’s staff and

growers took part in the 13th ride event.

• In 2010 a large group of Greenery employees got

together to raise funds for the Sophia Children’s

Hospital in Rotterdam. The staff members spent three

hours cycling on a spinning cycle, raising more

than 5,000 euros as part of the ‘Special Children’

event. The Greenery was also a sponsor of the

2010 event.

Open and availableThe Greenery’s product range and service provision

are constantly being improved, and we have intro­

duced a quality care system to help us do that. The

system is a way for The Greenery to receive, register

and follow up on complaints relating to product

quality or food safety. We think it is important to take

complaints seriously and our customers can notify

their contact person at The Greenery directly with

any complaints they may have.

The quality and environment department deals with

complaints about food safety. The complaints register

enables The Greenery to keep improving its service

on a daily basis.

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Communication

The Greenery's use of communication tools is designed to

encourage customers, consumers and growers to make

healthy choices. We do this by working with customers to

ensure products are presented as attractively as possible

in the stores and also by offering information about the

origin of products (www.VerseOogst.nl) and about sustain­

ability in the supply chain (www.NatureCounts.com).

The Greenery's aim is to make information about the

health and sustainability of the product range as accessible

as possible for growers, customers and consumers. The

Greenery has formulated the following key performance

indicators (KPIs) for this purpose:

• In 2011 more than 50,000 people will visit the Verse

Oogst.nl website.

• From 2011 The Greenery will use corporate communication

channels (lorries, films, etc) at least ten times a year to

communicate about sustainability.

• In 2012 Nature Counts will be an established part of The

Greenery's communications in the countries it supplies

its products to.

23

Healthy Business OperationsCritical assessments of our own business operations are part

of corporate social responsibility. In the past, The Greenery

and its subsidiaries put a lot of effort into making their

logistical processes more efficient. In 2010 the emphasis

was on carbon reduction.

24

EcoDrivingIn 2010 all of The Greenery’s drivers undertook

training in EcoDriving. EcoDriving is based on driving

at lower engine revolutions which is made possible

by modern engine management systems and anti­

cipating traffic situations better. A lorry can reduce its

fuel consumption by 20% when applying EcoDriving

techniques, and this reduces carbon emissions.

EcoDriving also reduces other engine emissions (such

as NOx) and has positive impacts on traffic safety,

vehicle lifespan and noise pollution.

Lean and Green AwardIn May 2011 our logistics subsi­

diary Hollander Barendrecht

was awarded the Lean and

Green Award by the Ministry of

Infrastructure and the Environ­

ment. The award recognised

years of efforts towards reducing the company’s

environmental impact using the Lean methodology,

where sustainability is integrated into business

operations. Hollander has concentrated its fresh and

semi­fresh products into a single distribution centre.

The company has also focused heavily on reducing

energy consumption in the distribution centre,and on

optimising its transport routes. These measures have

led to its relative carbon emissions being reduced by

more than 24% in two years. The Greenery will be

following this up in 2011 with the formulation of

critical performance indicators to reduce its carbon

emissions by 20%.

SuperlorriesIn 2010 The Greenery decided to put three extra

superlorries into use in 2011. This brings the total

number to five. These lorries have a total length of

some 25 metres (much longer than the usual 18.75

metres) and are significantly heavier. They can carry

large loads over long distances and deliver a fuel

saving of around 15% per pallet.

SideWingsThe Greenery’s transport company Dijco participated

in a SideWings trial in 2010. SideWings are panels

that sit underneath the semi­trailer, and were

developed by Ephicas, a spin­off company of the

Delft University of Technology. Applying SideWings

reduces fuel consumption by 5­10%, and therefore

reduces carbon emissions too. These advanced panels

also provide better safety and reduce noise pollution.

The Greenery will be expanding the trial in 2011.

Cleaner lorriesIn 2010 transport company Dijco replaced five Euro III

lorries with Euro V lorries. These vehicles have an

efficiency of 1:3.44 rather than 1:3, saving 15% on

25

fuel costs and on carbon emissions. The categories

(Euro III and Euro V) are based on European emission

standards. These are EU­wide standards for harmful

emissions and are constantly being made more

stringent.

Waste, energy and water usageThe Greenery makes an effort to limit the environ­

mental impact of its internal business operations.

Water and energy usage at every site is registered

and analysed centrally. In 2010 we focused on further

reducing our environmental impact. Our water and

energy usage, waste volumes and carbon emissions

related to our business operations fell in 2010 compared

to 2009.

Carbon emissions in 2010 were 2.5% lower than in 2009.

Electricity and gas consumption per 1000 packaging

units fell by 7% and 1% respectively in 2010.

Total water usage in 2010 dropped from 212,318 to

211,754 m3.

Total waste dropped to 11,678,137 kg.

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

20102009

Waste in millions of kg300

250

200

150

100

50

0

20102009

Water consumption in m3 x 1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

20102009

Electricity Gas consumption

Energy consumption in GJ per 1000 packaging units

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

20102009

Electricity Gas consumption

Carbon emissions in 1000s of tons

26

PackagingThe Greenery aims to reduce the impact of its

packaging on the overall environment and its imme­

diate surroundings. We take a partnership approach

with clients, ensuring sustainability for them in the

way we package their fruit and vegetables. Our

British customers have requested that we seal our

strawberry and mushroom packages with Topseal

film. This has now replaced millions of plastic lids on

strawberry and mushroom trays. In 2010 blue

mushroom boxes also switched to recycled plastic.

As of this year, The Greenery has been able to provide

a sustainable foam tray for chicory made from maize

starch. Although it is a feasible product, cost factors

have so far dissuaded customers from actually using it.

Supply chain reductionThe Greenery’s aim is to make the entire supply chain

from growers to consumers as short as possible.

Having a short chain means The Greenery can offer

consumers the freshest possible products. That is

why growers harvest to order, enabling products to

be delivered to customers in the shortest possible

time. The Greenery is also creating direct links

between growers and customers, and many

customers receive their orders directly from the

growers. This reduces the need for storage in the

supply chain.

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Business Operations

Critical assessments of our own business operations are

part of corporate social responsibility. What can we do

to lessen our impact on people, the environment and

immediate surroundings?

The Greenery’s long­term aim is to reduce the ecological

footprint of our business operations by 20% in 2013

compared to 2008.

This means that The Greenery:

• Will carry out checks in 2012 to see where carbon

emissions can be reduced.

• Will produce 20% fewer carbon emissions by 2013

compared to 2008.

27

Healthy EmployeesAn organisation can only be healthy if its employees are too.

That is why The Greenery invests in its people and constantly

works to provide a pleasant, healthy working environment

so that everyone can work to the best of their ability. It is

also why we acted promptly in response to the views

expressed in our staff satisfaction survey in 2010. The majority

of those issues have been acted upon and we have raised

our health and safety standards even higher.

28

Labour market and trainingThe labour market is undergoing profound change,

with fewer people being available to take over the

jobs previously carrdied out by the ‘baby boomers’.

The Greenery is responding to those changes and

improving its appeal as an employer. This includes

raising our profile in the labour market, developing

different recruitment mechanisms and working with

training bodies.

The Greenery is keen to ensure that staff have access

to learning and development opportunities. Wherever

possible, those opportunities are developed internally,

so they are customised to our work.

In 2010 we turned our attention to the implemen­

tation of the SAP automation system at the Zalt­

bommel site and within Greenery Benelux and many

employees were trained in this. Every year, we also

offer performance management workshops. In 2010,

our employees spent an average of 7.8 hours each on

training programmes.

Training programmesThe Greenery offers a graduate trainee programme,

with the third intake starting in 2011. Seven trainees

started in 2010, in logistical, financial or commercial

roles. The training programme for trainees and young

professionals is specifically focused on skills and

developments within the FFV sector. The Greenery’s

trainee programme was named Best Traineeship 2010

in the Finance category by Nobiles Media, a graduate

careers fair.

GreenFuture is The Greenery’s on­the­job training

programme and it offers students from senior

secondary vocational education (MBO) programmes

a chance to gain practical experience. Participating

students qualify for an MBO2 Logistical Staff diploma.

In 2010 seven GreenFuture candidates joined at

various sites. The Greenery also runs an internship

scheme, with 41 interns working at the organisation

during 2010.

Satisfaction survey

The 2009 staff satisfaction survey generated a strong

response and therefore provided a clear picture of what

staff want. In 2010, several of the areas for improvement

highlighted in the survey were acted upon as 80% of the

suggestions have been followed up, with the rest to

follow in 2011. Team leaders have delivered improved

organisation in the workplace, greater consultation,

clearer communication and better divisions of responsi­

bility. The survey also highlighted a number of areas for

improvement which are being dealt with at the central

level by the he human resources department. The

department is training managers in improving their

work briefings to staff, to provide simpler and clearer

communication. Managers are also being taught how to

encourage good behaviour and change poor behaviour.

The Greenery attaches great importance to a pleasant

work atmosphere.

29

Works CouncilIn 2009 The Greenery held its first elections for the

Works Council because the number of candidates was

greater than the number of seats. The council now

has a significantly younger membership and the new

members started in 2010. One important issue within

the council is reaching an agreement with manage­

ment about the establishment of sub­committees,

which are designed to register developments at specific

sites and respond to them immediately. Their members

can also launch their own initiatives to remedy issues

at work. Sub­committee elections were held in May

2010. The introduction of the sub­committees is a

new way for The Greenery to increase the participation

of staff in running the organisation.

Preventative medical check-upsIn 2010 the Arbodienst, an advisory health and safety

service for companies, performed check­ups on 358

staff who had volunteered for a preventative medical

check­up. The check­up is focused on the links

between personal health and the workplace. The

health of the staff who took part was found to be in

line with the reference group of ‘industry and the

working population’. Some aspects requiring attention

were found to be warehouse temperatures and physical

strains on workers. Training has since been provided

on ‘careful lifting’. The results of the check­ups have

contributed to our policies on working conditions and

the awareness raising campaign Working Safely,

which took place in 2010.

Working Safely awareness campaignIn the spring of 2010 all of our distribution centres

focused on safety issues, with specific attention being

paid to working with fork­lift trucks and other

vehicles. Preventative measures and procedures are

only effective if everyone is constantly vigilant about

working safely.

Compared to industry averages, relatively few

incidents occur at The Greenery. The safety at work

campaign, known as Alerta, increased awareness

amongst staff. Safety awareness is also built into

work meetings and staff can raise issues there for

clarification.

Health & safety conditionsHealth & safety conditions are always available for

discussion at our various sites. The Greenery has

developed critical performance indicators to be able

to assess health and safety policy objectively. These

indicators come into play during discussions between

logistic control and the site managers. Health and

safety actions and conditions are also monitored

from an organisation­wide perspective.

In 2010 The Greenery started building a health and

safety management system (comparable to the existing

quality management system) where all relevant

information is pooled. Grouping objectives, policies

and programmes gives everyone involved a clearer

insight into issues and enables them to ensure the

effective and efficient delivery of quality management.

In early 2010 engineers tested electronic devices at

every site for compliance with the NEN 3140 directives.

The equipment passed the tests and was approved.

In a pilot project, staff at Bleiswijk were given addi­

tional training in dealing safely with faults and

maintenance.

Reducing physical strainIn 2010 the Health & Safety Inspectorate carried out

its renewed checks on physical strains to staff, as

previously announced. The inspectorate was pleased

with the measures that The Greenery had taken.

There has been a strong focus in recent years

on labour­saving measures which has involved

30

introducing new equipment, training in object lifting,

health and safety working groups and analysis of

workplace accidents.

Absence due to illnessIn 2010 The Greenery recorded an illness­related

absence rate of 4.6%, not including employees on

maternity leave. This rate is higher than The Greenery

would like. In 2010 there was a significant increase in

long­term sick leave for staff aged 60 or over, which

unfortunately The Greenery can do little about. The

Greenery´s target for 2011 is 4.5% or lower.

Age group Number of people in service at year-end

2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010

Age group F M F M F M

< 25 39 178 30 139 16 115

25-34 82 267 77 276 75 28135-44 99 454 92 413 91 38045-54 66 366 71 395 71 406> 55 39 267 39 258 35 267Total 325 1532 309 1481 288 1449

Attrition2008 2009 2010

Attrition 436 268 254Of total 1857 1790 1737% of total 23% 15% 15%

WorkforceNumber of FTEs in service at year-end

2008 2009 2010

Board/MT/office 565 588 591Logistics 928 894 864Transport and other 168 173 176Total 1661 1655 1631

Diversity

Number of people in service at year-end

2008 2009 2010

Male 1532 1481 1449Female 325 309 288Total 1857 1790 1737

Women represent 8% of management

Number of FTEs by country business

Number of FTEs in service at year-end

2009 2010permanent agency total permanent agency total

The Netherlands 1550 943 2484 1527 1026 2553United Kingdom 21 21 21 21Italy 6 6 6Spain 7 7 7 7China 14 14 14 14Belgium 51 10 61 49 3 51US 3 3 3 3Germany 3 3 3 3Poland 1 Romania 1 1 1 1Total 1655 943 2598 1631 1029 2659

Our plans for 2011 concerning Healthy

Employees

The Greenery values investment in its people and con­

stantly works to provide a pleasant, healthy working

environment so that everyone can work to the best of

their ability. We also want to improve our appeal as an

employer. In the long term, The Greenery’s objective is to

achieve a score of 8 out of 10 in the staff satisfaction

survey. To achieve that, we are creating a plan in 2011

which involves these performance indicators.

31

In 2010 we formulated a number of long­term goals

and key performance indicators (KPIs). In 2011, we

will be expanding on the latter to better steer our

sustainable business operations. This is particularly

relevant to two aspects of our sustainability strategy –

healthy innovation and healthy employees. We also

anticipate progress in other aspects of our sustain­

ability policy in 2011 too, some of which are listed

below.

Healthy CultivationThe Greenery has spent many years working towards

healthy cultivation techniques by reducing the use of

crop agents, ensuring food safety, increasing our

range of organic and Fairtrade products and encoura­

ging sustainability amongst growers. In 2011 we will

continue to develop measurement techniques to

identify areas for improvement and ensure our

efforts are transparent. We also aim to award our

Nature Counts quality label to more of our out­

standing growers in 2011, encouraging sustainable

growing practices.

Making healthy choices appealingIf people are to live healthier lives, it is important

that they have access to a healthy, varied diet. Our

aim is to encourage more people to make healthy

choices and eat more fruit and vegetables. We are

doing this by supporting retailers in how they design

their fruit and vegetable displays, as well as by

further expanding and promoting existing concepts

and introducing new products or services that better

suit the needs of consumers. One area of focus in

2011 is consumer communications that explain product

origins and usage, through the Verse Oogst and

Sicher Geniessen websites and associated promotional

activities. This work also increases awareness

amongst our buyers and consumers about the health

and sustainability qualities of our product range.

Caring for peopleIt is important for our staff to be healthy, and not just

because it benefits our business operations. That is

why we train our staff in how to work and lift objects

safely. We are aiming to reduce the rate of absence

due to illness to a maximum of 4.5%. The same target

applies to the growers and their staff. Our anticipated

membership of BSCI in 2011 will enhance respect for

labour standards and human rights. Our staff play an

important role in our ongoing work to make our

business sustainable. That is why we will be paying

even more attention to sustainability in our trainee

programme from 2011.

Climate awarenessOur aim is to reduce our carbon emissions by 20% in

2014 compared to 2010. To that end, we are carrying

out an energy­saving audit in 2011 to highlight

opportunities to save energy.

We want our focus on these areas to deliver a

balance along all the links in our supply chain. This

will enable The Greenery to offer customers a

respon sible, healthy, varied and sustainable range

of fruit, vegetables and mushrooms.

Looking ahead: Healthy is More in 2011Creating a sustainable business is an ongoing process for The Greenery. In 2011 The

Greenery will continue to act on its sustainability strategy, ‘Healthy is More’. The

strategy is based on encouraging, supporting and promoting healthier products

and cultivation methods and optimising the supply chain.

32

The Greenery at a glanceThe Greenery is a leading international fruit and vegetable

company. We supply a full range of fresh fruit, vegetables

and mushrooms to supermarket chains, wholesalers, cate-

rers and the food processing industry worldwide and all

year round. Quality, efficiency and professionalism are cor-

nerstones of The Greenery’s operations. We also pride

ourselves on our expertise, entrepreneurialism and the

energy and impact of our staff. The Greenery is also com-

mitted to encouraging healthy, sustainable production in

the entire FFV supply chain.

33

Company profileThe Greenery sells products from both Dutch and

foreign growers, Most of our turnover is generated

from around 1,000 Dutch growers, who own The

Greenery B.V. through Coöperatie Coforta U.A. Our

work covers the entire FFV supply chain, from careful

seed quality monitoring to developing new plant

varieties and creating in­store concepts for super­

markets. The Greenery operates in the Benelux,

Germany, the UK, southern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia,

central Europe, north America and the Far East.

Coforta Verkoop B.V., a new sales channel for members

of Coöperatie Coforta U.A., focuses on the Dutch

whole sale market and exporters. In 2010, 18% of all

members (all of them greenhouse growers) opted to

sell their products through Coforta Verkoop BV.

Coforta Verkoop B.V. and the trading company The

Greenery jointly form The Greenery B.V.

Financial informationThe 2010 Annual Report contains a detailed account

of The Greenery´s financial results. This report can be

downloaded from www.thegreenery.com

Key figures 2010 2009 2008

Net turnover 1,263 1,149 1,308

Operating result 4 14 10

Net profit 5 7 9

Capital base as % of total balance

41.0% 39.6% 38.7%

(in millions of euros)

Spain 7% Overseas 19%

Other European countries 3% The Netherlands 71%

Country of product origin

The Netherlands 50% Rest of Europe 21%

Germany 10% Rest of the world 5%

United Kingdom 14%

Geographic distribution of turnover

Mushrooms 4% Other fruit 9%

Soft fruit 6% Other vegetables 17%

Deciduous fruit 7% Botanic-fruit vegetables 57%

Product distribution

Members

Members' Council

Coöperatie Coforta U.A.

Supervisory Board

Trading companyThe Greenery B.V.

Coforta Verkoop B.V.

The Greenery B.V.

34

Sustainability managementAt The Greenery, the management board has ultimate

responsibility for sustainability, with the director of

quality and the environment serving as the primary

point of contact. The organisation´s sustainability

objectives for 2011 were drawn up by the manage­

ment board in coordination with the logistics and

marketing and communication managers.

The Greenery’s directors and management created

the ‘Healthy is More’ sustainability strategy in 2008.

At management level, sustainability is addressed

during the weekly operational management mee­

ting, as well as during the quarterly consultations on

quality assurance, environmental affairs and sustai­

nability held between the director of quality and the

environment and the heads of the commercial

departments.

At an operational level, consultations with suppliers

are held every two weeks and these meetings also

address sustainability.

Everyday on the shop floor, our employees put

policy into practice under the direction of the

management.

Code of Conduct and Whistleblower SchemeThe Greenery´s Code of Conduct and Whistleblower

Scheme officially took effect in 2007. The Code of

Conduct endorses the rules of the ETI code and further

lays down standards for The Greenery, its wholly­

owned subsidiaries and employees.

In all its activities, The Greenery pursues a policy

rooted in the principles of fairness, integrity and

transparency. We always maintain a respect for human

rights, the environment and legitimate interests.

Here, legitimate interests relates to not only to

employees, customers and shareholders, but also to

suppliers and other involved parties.

The Whistleblower Scheme is a way of ensuring that

we remain compliant with The Greenery´s Code of

Conduct. This scheme offers all employees of The

Greenery and its wholly­owned subsidiaries the

opportunity to report suspected violations of internal

and external regulations (of the Code of Conduct),

without fear of personal consequences.

Corporate GovernanceThe 2010 Annual Report includes a chapter on Corpo­

rate Governance. This report can be downloaded

from www.thegreenery.com

The supply chain in focus(pages 35 and 36)

The Greenery works with growers, customers and

suppliers to improve the sustainability of the fruit,

vegetable and mushroom supply chain. We want to

minimise the impact of the supply chain at every

point, protecting the environment, people and local

surroundings.

The Greenery is passionate about its products. We

produce only the best fruit, vegetables and

mushrooms and we ensure their journey from farm

to fork is as short as possible. Our products move

along the supply chain as follows:

Stan de RidderLogistics Manager

Yvonne GeurtenMarketing & Communication Manager

Arie van der LindenDirector of Quality and the Environment

Seed-enhancement companies

Growers

Sales and Marketing

Logistics

Customers

Consumers

35

The supply chain in focus

Seed-enhancement companies

Innovation is a key concern at The Greenery. Our

market and product expertise and central position in

the supply chain make us uniquely positioned to

introduce and market innovative products. We work

closely with seed­enhancement companies in our

ongoing efforts to innovate in a dynamic market. In

this way, we support growers in the development of

new varieties and sustainable cultivation.

Growers

Every day, growers both at home and abroad supply

us with a full range of fruit, vegetables and

mushrooms. A healthy crop is a sustainable crop.

Growers affiliated with The Greenery are encouraged

to use as few crop protection agents as possible,

make sparing use of (renewable) energy and they

agree to adhere to sound health and safety principles

throughout the entire supply chain.

Sales and Marketing

The Greenery´s trading rooms are where our supply

and customer demand, both national and international,

are brought together. This is where our range is tailored

as much as possible to suit customers’ varying needs

and wishes. Society is easily swayed by hypes and

trends.and The Greenery keeps an eye on those

trends and translates them into new market oppor­

tunities. Sustainability and health are not just trends

as they can influence the product range – by leading

to the creation of an organic range for example. The

Greenery’s market­oriented approach gives us the

flexibility to offer a specific response to every

demand and we share our expertise with growers

and customers so we can meet the changing needs

of consumers.

36

Logistics

Fresh produce relies on speed, which is why efficiency

and good logistics channels are so vital to our business.

After harvesting, products go through a sequence of

steps from sorting to processing to packaging, Supply

chains need to be seamless, so that they can continue

to be shortened. This leads to fresher products and

will ultimately reduce our environmental impact. By

keeping the supply chain as short as possible and

minimising waste at every opportunity, we can

minimise our impact on people and the environment.

The Greenery’s aim is to reduce its transport­related

carbon emissions by using more efficient logistics

and fuel­efficient transport options.

Customers

Supermarkets see the FFV sector as an important

product category when it comes to distinguishing

their own formulas from competing concepts. The

Greenery supports supermarkets in making a thorough

analysis of their FFV range and in designing the layout

of the fresh produce section. We help them with pro­

motional campaigns, product demonstrations and

in­store materials and, occaisonaly, by training

employees working in the fresh produce section.

This support is often based on research into consumer

preferences and behaviour. The Greenery also works

with supermarkets to raise awareness of sustainability

amongst consumers.

Consumers

The Greenery is keen to promote healthy choices

amongst consumers and we do this in a wide variety

of ways. We offer a broad range of products to

encourage varied diets, as well as special products

for extra convenience. The www.verseoogst.nl

website provides information on product origins and

cultivation methods.

37

Scope and methodThis report relates to the organisation of the trading

company The Greenery B.V., including its sixteen

subsidiaries and Coforta Verkoop B.V. It is an annual

report covering performance in the period from

1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010.

The Annual Report can be downloaded from

www.thegreenery.com with detailed information on

financial results and the legal structure.

This report has been drawn up in accordance with the

guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI),

level C, self­declared. The GRI guidelines define this

report’s most important performance indicators.

The report also complies with the criteria set by the

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innova­

tion’s transparency benchmark. Both those instruments

were created following extensive consultation with

the private business sector, civil society organisations

and various global organisations. By following these

guidelines, The Greenery aims to provide readers,

staff members, growers, customers and other stake­

holders in society with the information they require.

The data is stored in a central database at the

company headquarters. A portion of the data includes

estimates.

Definition of terms

• �FFV: Fresh fruits and vegetables

• �BSCI: Business Social Compliance Initiative.

• �BRC: British Retail Consortium, a trade association

• �Packaging� unit: The individual units in which

products are packaged

• �DPA: Trade association for sellers of fruits, vegetables

and mushrooms

• �ETI: Ethical Trading Initiative, a code of conduct

governing ethical entrepreneurship

• �Freshfel: European FFV sector forum

• �GRI: Global Reporting Initiative, the international

guideline for reporting on sustainability

• �IFS: International Food Standard, explicit quality

standard for auditing private label food product

suppliers.

• �ILO: International Labour Organisation

• �KCB: Dutch quality code for fruit and vegetables.

• �KPIs: Key performance indicators

• �LZV: Lange Zware Vrachtauto’s (superlorries)

• �SEDEX: Supplier Ethical Databank Exchange, a non­

profit membership organisation for businesses

committed to continuous improvement of the

ethical performance of their supply chains. Key areas

of concern include labour conditions and safety

• �TFMS: Tesco Food Manufacturing Standard

• �QS�system: Qualitat und Sicherheit. German

quality system

• �RIK: Reglement Interne Kwaliteitscontrole

(internal quality control regulation)

Other information

38

GRI Table

GRI tableSR = Sustainability ReportAR = Annual Report

Indicator Explanation Report Page number(s) Comments and website links

Vision and strategy1.1 Management Board statement. SR 3

Company profile2.1 Name of reporting organisation. The Greenery B.V.

2.2 Primary brands, products and/or services. SR 33, AR 3-4

2.3 Operational structure. AR 3

2.4 Location of headquarters. SR 41 Spoorwegemplacement 1, Barendrecht , The Netherlands

2.5 Number of countries in which the company operates. SR 33

2.6 Ownership structure and legal form. AR 3

2.7 Markets served. SR 33

2.8 Scale of reporting organisation. SR 33

2.9 Significant changes during the reporting period. SR 33, AR 6-7

2.10 Awards achieved during the reporting period. SR 3, 17, 24 Best Traineeship 2010 Super IntroAward: cat. Children’s products Lean and Green Award.

Report parameters3.1 Reporting period. SR 37 January 1 2010 – December 31 2010

3.2 Date of most recent report. September 2009

3.3 Reporting cycle. Annual

3.4 Point of contact for questions regarding the report and its content. SR 41 duurzaamheid@thegreenery.com

Company profile3.5 Process for defining report content. SR 37

3.6 Scope of the report. SR 37

3.7 State any specific limitations on the report or its scope. SR 37

3.8 Basis for reporting on other entities. Not applicable.

3.9 Techniques and calculation bases for data measurements. SR 37

3.10 Explanation of the effects of any restatement of previously supplied information. In the interests of comparability, figures for stocks, debtors and short-term loans over 2009 have been adjusted to align with the presentation used for the year under review.

3.11 Significant changes from previous reporting periods. SR 33, AR 6-7

39

Indicator Explanation Report Page number(s) Comments and website links

GRI table of contents3.12 Table identifying the location of standard disclosures in the report. SR 38-40

Assurance3.13 Policy and current practices with regard to seeking external assurance for the report. The financial data (the annual accounts)

have been externally verified by Deloitte Accountants B.V., the other data in the sustainability report have not been externally verified.

Governance, obligations and involvement4.1 Governance structure of the organisation, including committees that fall under the highest

governance body.AR 28-30, SR 33-34

4.2 Chair of the highest governance body. AR 28-30

4.3 For single-tier organisations: indicate the number of independent and/or non-executive members of the highest governance body.

Not applicable.

4.4 Mechanisms for shareholders and employees to provide recommendations or direction to the highest governance body.

AR 28-30, SR 28, 34

4.5 Linkage between compensation for members of the highest governance body, senior and executive managers (including severance schemes) and organisational performance (including social and environmental performance).

No linkage between compensation for members of the highest governance body, senior and executive managers (including severance schemes) and organisational performance (including social and environmental performance) exists.

Consultations with stakeholders4.14 List of stakeholder groups engaged by the organisation. SR 5, 6

4.15 Basis for identification and selection of stakeholders with whom organisation engages. SR 5, 6

Performance indicators

EconomicEC1 Direct economic values generated and distributed, including revenues, operating costs, employee

compensation, donations and other community investments, retained earnings, and payments to capital providers and governments.

AR 35-38, SR 33

EC3 Covering liabilities related to the organisation’s established payment plan. AR 48-51

EC4 Significant financial assistance received from government. None.

EC7 Procedures for local hiring and proportion of senior management hired from the local community at significant locations of operation.

Not present.

40

Performance indicators

EnvironmentEN1 Total materials used by weight or volume. SR 25

EN6 Initiatives to provide energy-efficient or renewable energy-based products and services, and reductions in energy requirements as a result of these initiatives.

SR 11, 12, 23-25

EN7 Initiatives to reduce indirect energy consumption and reductions achieved. SR 11, 12, 23-25

EN8 Total water withdrawn by source in m3 per year. SR 25

EN16 Total direct and indirect GHG emissions by weight (in tonnes, CO2 equivalent). SR 25

EN18 Initiatives to reduce GHG emissions and reductions achieved. SR 11, 12, 23-25

EN22 Total weight of waste by type and disposal method. SR 25

Labour conditionsLA1 Total workforce by employment type, employment contract and region. SR 30

LA2 Total number and rate of employee turnover by age group, gender and region. SR 30

LA4 Percentage of employees covered by a collective labour agreement. 100%

LA 7 Rates of injury, occupational sickness, lost days and absenteeism, and total number of work-related fatalities per region.

SR 30

LA8 Education, training, counselling, prevention and risk-control programmes in place to assist workforce members and their families or community members regarding serious diseases.

SR 28, 29

Human rightsHR2 Percentage of significant suppliers and contractors that have undergone screening on human

rights, and actions taken.SR 9

HR4 Total number cases of discrimination and the measures taken. No cases reported.

HR6 Activities that have been found to involve a substantial risk of child labour, and measures taken to stamp out child labour.

SR 9

HR7 Activities that have been fund to involve a substantial risk of forced or compulsory labour, and measures taken to stamp out forced or compulsory labour.

SR 9

SocialSO6 Total value of financial and in-kind contributions to political parties, politicians and related

institutions, by country.None. Some directors have personal involvement with a political party.

Product accountabilityPR1 Life cycle stages in which health and safety impacts of products and services are assessed for

improvement.SR 10-12, 15, 35, 36

PR5 Practices related to customer satisfaction, including results of surveys measuring customer satisfaction.

SR 21, 22

More information

The purpose of this report is to provide a clear and

transparent description of activities and developments

within our organisation in the area of sustainable

entrepreneur ship in 2010. Any questions, comments or

suggestions can be sent to the following email address:

duurzaamheid@thegreenery.com

Publication information

Publication date: July 2011

Compiled by: Karin van der Voort

Consultancy and editorial: Schuttelaar & Partners, The Hague

Photography: The Greenery Image Archive

Design and layout: CapsStudio, Abcoude

The Greenery B.V.

Spoorwegemplacement 1, Barendrecht, The Netherlands

P.O. Box 79, 2990 AB Barendrecht, The Netherlands

Telephone: +31 (0)180 65 59 11

E­mail: info@thegreenery.com

www.thegreenery.com