FREJA adjusts in top management

In May 2019, FREJA adjusted in top management and added new competencies.

FREJA founder, Jørgen J. Hansen, stepped back as Group CEO and has since May 1 used his expertise as working Chairman of the Board in FREJA Holding. Jørgen has been managing the daily operations of FREJA, since he started the company back in 1985 with a partner.

Until May 1, Ulrik Rasmussen was Managing Director Denmark, but has now taken on the new role as Group CEO for FREJA. Ulrik, who has been with FREJA since 2010, has been Managing Director in both FREJA Norway and FREJA Denmark.

FREJA’s previous Regional Director Denmark West, Jan Sunde, has been appointed the new Managing Director for FREJA Denmark. Jan has since 2017 been a part of the Danish country management team. About the new position, Jan says: “I look forward to the collaboration with all the highly skilled colleagues in FREJA, where everyone has an important role and team effort is crucial for our success. I would like to say thank you to FREJA’s top management for trusting in me to take over from Ulrik”. The recruitment of a new Regional Director Denmark West will be effectuated during 2019. Until then, Jan will also continue in this role.

In connection to the above, FREJA has strengthened the future management team by recruiting Nicolai Præstholm as Group Business Development Director. Nicolai started May 1, 2019 and has already started to work with development projects on Group level. Before, Nicolai worked as a consultant at Implement Consulting Group and he was also a member of the Board in FREJA Holding.

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FREJA sends out the CSR Report for 2018

At FREJA, we have chosen to take responsibility. We value Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and it is an integrated part of the way, we run our business. We are proud to send out the newest CSR report for 2018 that documents our initiatives. The CSR report has been developed with the purpose of creating greater transparency through all levels of the supply chain. This will make it easier for you to understand where you can optimize your supply chain in order to run a more sustainable business.

FREJA develops effective transport and logistics solutions for a world in motion and we strive to reduce our imprint on the environment throughout our value chain. “FREJA is a responsible company with things in order – this is applies to everything from our Code of Conduct for the haulers, to our innovation concepts and employee development – trainees as well as managers. Our focus is on people and we believe that well-being and motivation drives a sustainable business” says FREJA’s Managing Director in Denmark, Jan Sunde.

For this reason, CSR is one of the strategic areas that our business is built upon. Within CSR we have 7 priority-areas, which the report for 2018 follows: 1) climate & environment, 2) human rights, 3) working conditions, 4) financial and business affairs, 5) local community, 6) good management, and 7) good business practice.

The CSR report maps our business activities for Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway according to UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The goals we focus on in the report are primarily 3) Good health and well-being, 8) Decent jobs and economic growth, and 9) Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, together with 4) Quality education, 5) Gender equality, 12) Responsible consumption and production, and 17) Partnerships for the goals.

In 2019 we expect to be able to present the business activities for our newly opened department in China, as well as for our department in Poland, which we last year acquired with the purchase of Transcargo. The purpose of this is to develop a CSR report that covers the whole FREJA Group.

You can read the CSR report for 2018 here [click]

For further information please contact QES Manager Eric Clausen at ecl@freja.com

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FREJA expands in Poland

In FREJA we experience a growing interest in the management of our customers' complete transport and logistics needs from pure road transport in all of Europe as well as Air & Sea solutions, to the handling of containers, storage and pick & pack services. Therefore, we are creating new opportunities in Poland.

On a 76,000m2 large site located 20 km from Szczecin center we are constructing a new domicile where we expect to move in during May 2020.

The first part of the project was tearing down the old buildings. This part is proceeding as planned and the next step will be the construction of the new buildings, which will include 1,400m2 office facilities, 5,400m2 high bay storage (10 m high) and 4,600m2 cross docking + pick & pack area. The warehouse facilities will be heated or prepared for heating in order to have the necessary flexibility and ability to solve our customers’ current and future needs.

The outdoor area will be equipped with flagstones giving us parking facilities for 150 trailers. We will construct areas for frigo-trailers (power plugin), adblue refueling prepared for the future, and a 500m2 large garage for repair of trailers.

The indoor facilities will include common rooms, sleeping rooms, showers, and kitchen facilities for drivers.

The fenced facilities will be manned 24/7 at the entrance, where we will be able to inspect all trailers by use of scales built into the road, and the address will be a turning point for FREJA’s road transports in and out of Scandinavia.

In addition to the new buildings we have kept two existing warehouses with a total of 4,400m2, which are already full..

The office environment will be built in two floors considering the working environment. The location is only two kilometers from the central highway S6 direction Swinoujscie/Gdansk and S3 direction Pozna - very central for the transport flow to and from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the EU.

If you wish to know more about the possibilities in Poland, please feel free to contact Torben Mortensen at tor@freja.com

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Once again Himmerland hosted a fantastic golf event

From May 22 to 26 the Danish region of Himmerland and FREJA welcomed hosted happy people and showed amazing entertainment in connection with the golf event Made in Denmark. 2019 was the first year with FREJA as presenting sponsor. FREJA set its mark on hole No. 10, which was dressed in FREJA’s red and white colors, and the VIP lounge hummed with FREJA identity. At hole No. 10, 400 customers, suppliers, and FREJA employees enjoyed the magnificent surroundings and enjoyed fantastic golf.

“It was wonderful and impressive surroundings at Made in Denmark. You were very accommodating when we arrived, and we enjoyed good food and entertainment – and your tent was perfectly placed with a great view of the three best holes,” says Camilla Kristiansen Customer Service & Logistics Coordinator at Best Friend Denmark A/S.

The days in Himmerland are very unique and very special. Customers and FREJA employees meet each other and establish new relations. You see and meet FREJA in a very different way, as one of our customers said afterward: “Thank you very much to FREJA and all FREJA employees for a splendid event! We had a fantastic experience in Himmerland and enjoyed meeting FREJA” – John Nybo, CFO at Skjern Papirfabrik A/S.

Unfortunately, Made in Denmark was not won by a Dane this year, but by the Austrian player Bernd Wiesberger. However, Danish Martin Leth Simonsen created a success on Thursday by making a hole-in-one at hole No. 16. This gave him two wonderful Caria carts (one for himself and one for his caddie).

The hours in our tent with customers and suppliers were spiced up with visits from well-known Danes such as Anders Dahl Nielsen, Mads Conrad, Victor Svendsen, Lucas Bjerregaard, and Thomas Bjørn, who shared their stories from their careers as professional athletes.

One of the major events in the FREJA tent was the visit of Thomas Bjørn, who brought his Ryder Cup trophy with him and very entertainingly shared his experiences from the Ryder Cup team and the tournament in 2018 with 150 FREJA employees and business associates.

It is obvious that both FREJA employees and customers enjoy the days in Himmerland. One of our commercial employees said to me afterward: “After a full week in Himmerland with lots of customers and good experiences, I am extremely proud of working in FREJA”.

In FREJA we already look forward to May 2020 and to welcome you once again to Made in Denmark presented by FREJA in Himmerland.

“In order to be able to grow and be proactive, we need a partner in logistics, who is able to think outside the box as well as capable of adapting to the changing markets. With this in mind, we contacted FREJA and explained our needs and future plans”, says Freddy W. Hansen, Nordic Supply Chain Manager, B. Braun Nordic.

In the Norwegian Magazine, Moderne Transport, you can read more about FREJA’s unique collaboration with the German company, B. Braun Melsungen AG; one of the world’s leading providers and manufacturers of Healthcare products.

You can read the article right here (in Norwegian)

[caption id="attachment_5992" align="alignnone" width="800"] Managing Director in FREJA Norway, Kjell-Arne Eloranta (left) and Nordic Supply Chain Manager in B. Braun, Freddy Wilhelm Hansen agree that quality is of highest priority[/caption]

FREJA Finland has partnered with MRKTNG Day. MRKTNG Day  is the biggest marketing event in the Nordic. Two days filled with world’s top keynote speakers and workshops for CEOs, CMOs and marketers.

– In our business marketing is of great importance because we need marketing communications to make our road transport, sea freight and air freight solutions noticeable to our potential customers and reach them with our message why FREJA is the best partner. It is not enough, that our trailers drive continuously on the highways, because they alone do not enable us to communicate the business value that we create to our potential customers, says Matti Urmas, CEO of FREJA Finland.

[caption id="attachment_7107" align="alignright" width="300"] Riikka-Maria Lemminki CEO of Marketing Finland and FREJA Finland's Managing Director Matti Urmas.[/caption]

FREJA Finland´s competence is in customer satisfaction. According to FREJA Finland´s own surveys and according to independent market research companies in the forwarding and international transport industry, FREJA Finland is the best at keeping promises and taking our customer’s needs into account.

– It's great to have an event partner such as FREJA. In a short time FREJA has created a brand that competes with a strong customer experience alongside big international brands, says Riikka-Maria Lemminki, CEO of Marketing Finland.

According to Matti Urmas, the role of the main partner is also a natural way for FREJA to show leadership in the transport industry. Efficient and reliable international transports are in the interests of society and the environment.

- When loads are driven as full as possible, on time, without empty kilometers and reliably, everything works efficiently and indirectly at the same time we are reducing environmental nuisance. These things also need to be made visible through marketing, Urmas says.

The location of the MRKTNG Day is in Merikaapelihalli in Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, on September 10th-11th. There will be around 600 participants, CEOs, CMOs and marketers, mainly from Marketing Finland’s member companies, along with people from agencies, medias and service providers.

Marketing Finland is a network of almost 400 companies from trade, industry, ICT, tourism, service industries and non-governmental organizations.   These companies represent over 80% of marketing efforts in Finland.

Take part in our short survey, and you can win two tickets to MRKTNG Day!

All survey answers with necessary contact information are in the pool of names eligible to win.  Prize value 2 715.60 €.

The survey is open until August 30^th. The tickets will be drawn September 2nd.

[contact-form-7 id="7108" title="MRKTNG Day - competition EN"]

Best of Luck!

We will be personally in touch with the winner and update the winner's name on this news article after the draw has been completed.

Notice: The prize cannot be changed to money. The survey is open until August 30^th.

Only those applying through the form will be considered. The winner will be notified by email or phone. If the winner is not reached by September 3^rd 2019, the organizer has the right to draw a new winner instead. Employees of companies or members of their families who have been involved in the arrangements for this lottery may not participate in the draw.

Read more about FREJA Finland’s lottery rules (In Finnish)

Greetings from Jan Sunde

Dear reader

It is our pleasure to present FREJA Denmark’s newsletter for the third quarter of 2019.

In this newsletter we give you a presentation of the new vertical lifts, which have been installed in our division in Aarhus, we also inform you about the new legislation related to serialization and how FREJA may assist you in that matter. Furthermore, we present how FREJA grows with our customer Keflico and in a video with two of our trainees, we give you an insight into the trainee program in FREJA. The two trainees, Rasmus and Morten, share their experience and tell about their work.

Please enjoy your reading.

Best regards
Jan Sunde
Managing Director

 

FREJA develops with our customers

Since 1953 Keflico has serviced and advised professionals regarding wood-based products and solutions. A part of Keflico’s vision is to create the best customer experience in their industry as well as setting new standards and developing new knowledge and services together with their partners.

Keflico chooses its transportation and freight partners based on this vision. Keflico is a versatile company, that has a constant focus on their customers’ needs. For this reason, Keflico has high demands for its carriers.

The goal for Keflico is to choose carriers who can join them on their growth journey. They expect a high level of service, flexibility, and proactivity on the existing markets, as well as in potential new markets. That FREJA can offer serious transport solutions in all of Europe and worldwide, has been a great factor in the choice of FREJA.

For Keflico the market and demands are in constant movement, so an important part of the collaboration between the two parties is dialogue. To have a close relationship with FREJA and good communication ensures that Keflico can be ahead of the game and focus on their core competencies.

“It is the good story about how FREJA started by doing a couple of shipments for us to prove their quality. The experience with FREJA was good and lived up to their own, as well as Keflico’s expectations. FREJA certainly lives up to our wish of having a flexible and trustworthy partner. This has resulted in a close relationship where we, month after month, grow and develop together” says Jan Lykke Hansen, Supply Chain Manager at Keflico.

The collaboration between Keflico and FREJA is based on a strong partnership with a common interest in creating growth and development for both parties.

If you wish to hear more about FREJA’s products and services, please contact our Sales Director Denmark, Franz Andersen, on +45 9670 5030 or fas@freja.com.

 

FREJA gets new vertical lifts in Denmark

At FREJA Skanderborg, we have chosen a simple, efficient and space saving solution for storage and picking.

Our customer, Deichmann Sko ApS, for whom we run a web shop in Denmark and Sweden, has ambitious growth plans for the future development in these markets. Late summer 2018, we could either chose to do more of the same and put up more shelving for manual picks – or think innovative. We chose to do the latter.

After thorough dialogue with several providers, the choice was made for a total of 10 x 9-meter-high, LOGIMAT® lifts with space for many shoes. As in many, many shoes. We are ready for two digit growth rates and with the right IT integration also follows increased efficiency.

With the 10 lifts we can now store and pick the same number of shoes on only 350 m2 instead of the original 1.000 m2 in use at the time – without thought for the planned growth. Furthermore, we could terminate an external lease and gather all warehousing activities on one location.

We are in constant development with our customers and the needs they challenge us with. Do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs for warehousing or logistical solutions.

 

Trainee at FREJA

FREJA has a comprehensive trainee program which means that each year in August we welcome a new group of trainees. The trainee period is two years and we offer trainee positions in transports, logistics and accounting. In FREJA we find it important to educate young people and thereby create our own supply of competent teammates. During the two years in FREJA, the trainee will work in various divisions and have a wide insight into the relevant part of the business.

Dann Petersen started as a trainee in August 2018 in our UK/Ireland division. About his first year in FREJA Dann says: “I have learnt a lot during my first year, not only all the administrative work related to planning a trip to and from England, but also experienced the work from a drivers’ point of view. I have been so lucky to join one of our drivers on a tour to Great Britain, to see how everything is connected from a larger perspective. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to meet our partners and put a face on the people with whom I have the daily contact.

As a part of his training, Dann has transferred to another division on September 1^st. He is now in our customs division and says in that connection: “From the customs division I expect to obtain a clear understanding of the customs clearance system. I think it will be especially interesting in connection with Brexit and my qualifications from my work at the UK/Ireland department might become an advantage.

In general I find that the education as a transport planner fits me perfectly. It is great that the training program is based on learning in practice so you really can “get your hands dirty”. At the same time we learn a lot at the school and they give us many tools to use in our daily work. FREJA’s values suit me just fine, since they are based on quality, honesty and credibility. These are characteristics which are important at as well the personal as the professional level.”

 

If you are interested in learning more about FREJA’s trainee program and job opportunities, please contact HR Partner Tina Thorup at +45 9670 5283 or ttj@freja.com .

 

FREJA ensures traceability in your supply chain

What is serialization?

Serialization, also called verification, simply means that since 9^th February 2019 most prescription drugs and certain non-prescription drugs must be equipped with an individual bar code as well as a seal, enabling you to easily spot if the package has been opened. The purpose of the new system is to improve patient safety by an inspection of the authenticity of each individual packaging and to avoid that fake pharmaceutical products will find their way to the consumer.

What does the new EU directive about serialization mean?

The EU directive requires that all prescription drugs, which are included in the directive, and that are produced after 9^th February 2019, must be packed in sealed packages with a package specific – or individual – bar code, a so called 2D data matrix bar code and the anti-tampering device.

The new system has resulted in the creation of a pan European verification system. In order to handle this task, the relevant European trade associations and partners established a non-profit organization in February 2015 – The European Medicines Verification Organisation (EMVO) – to administrate and control the system in all of Europe. In Denmark we have established a national system for handling the data, and The Danish Medicines Verification Organisation (DMVO) is responsible for the administration and management of this according to the requirements of the EU directive.

As a manufacturer, what do you have to be aware of?

As a manufacturer you are required to upload your data to the European database. Via the central database, information is forwarded to the national databases. Before the prescription drug is handed out to a consumer at a pharmacy or hospital, a safety check will take place, a so called verification of the product, in the European database via the national database by a scan of the 2D barcode at the pharmacy or hospital. If the data is not found in the database, the package may not be handed out.

How may FREJA assist your business in this process?

FREJA offers to perform the transactions required to verify the products, which are delivered to FREJA’s GDP warehouse from a manufacturer, as well as for returned products and an export, so that legislation is respected. FREJA works to support the safety of pharmaceuticals in the market and to make sure that the products, which reach consumers, are not falsifications, and in that way we help to create transparency in the supply chain.

 

For more information about serialization or on how FREJA can be of service, please feel free to contact FREJA’s Group Healthcare Logistics Director, Marina Steensen, at +45 9670 5422 or msn@freja.com.

FREJA is very conscious of the inherent environmental impact of our core business. The transport sector is second only to the energy sector in CO2 emissions per year, with road transport as the main contributor to transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, and with considerable challenges in terms of introducing circular economy within our trade. Nonetheless, we are also acutely aware of the key role the transport sector plays as a contributor to trade, employment and economic growth, nationally as well as globally. For this reason, it is extra important for us to take social responsibility and do our best to reduce and minimize the daily environmental impact that mo­ving goods from A to B inevitably causes.

“Decency and mutual respect are core values at FREJA to the extent that we do not think about it in the way we act, but it has just become an integrated part of who we are. With these and the eight FREJAN values as our base (flexibility, result-orientation, engagement, just-in-time, attention, network, innovation, and trust) we would like to let it be known that we map our activities against the UN Sustainable Development Goals to underline this commitment”, says FREJA’s Group CEO, Ulrik Rasmussen.

Our foundation is decency in business and reduced environmental impact, strong focus on the well-being of our people, and continued innovation to benefit the people as well as our planet. Goals 3, 8, and 9 form our primary focus. We offer quality training to staff, we welcome more staff at all levels, we seek to do our part to increase responsible production, and we work in close cooperation with partners to reach our targets.

Goals 4, 5, 12 and 17 are our secondary focus. The goals do not change the substance of our endeavor, but they are an important joint framework that unites and articulates the efforts we make in cooperation with our partners and clients.

FREJA has a yearlong commitment with partners to the development of IT solutions to optimize transportation and reduce emissions. We measure empty haulage mileage and strive to constantly reduce it, load cargo intelligently and combine heavy and voluminous loads to maximize efficiency. FREJA proactively seeks out partners with potential for optimization, lean solutions, ultimately enabling prosperity and economic growth decoupled from environmental degradation.

If you want to know more about how we are working with CSR, you are always more than welcome to contact us.

At FREJA we assign a high priority to our responsibilities and this is an integral part of the way we do business. This means that accountability and propriety are keywords in our business development and branding.

FREJA has committed to ensuring sustainability, high business morals and ethics, as well as complete integrity. We are aware that there are different business cultures around the world and that we must, therefore, be able to handle both Danish and international regulations.

We do anti-corruption training, where we explain ethical rules to employees. No employee may take bribes in the form of gifts, loans or fees. We will set in motion initiatives to ensure that all employees be­come aware of and accept the whistleblower scheme during the introductory course at FREJA. The whistleblower scheme was set up in 2018 and it allows for anonymous reporting of experi­ences and suspicions of problematic conditions in the Group. The solution guarantees anonymity when reporting. This is done via a login to the system, so we have better opportunities to obtain more details about what is reported.

Access to the FREJA whist­leblower scheme is available via our website here: https://www.freja.com/dk/om-freja/corporate-social-responsibility/