From efficiency to profitability
Arvesta, Belgium’s leading partner for farmers and horticulturalists, seeks to pioneer sustainable agriculture. With Deloitte's assistance, Arvesta aims to reduce energy costs and usage by 20%, enhancing profitability while advancing environmental stewardship.
Arvesta is Belgium’s largest full-service partner for farmers and horticulturalists. With over 120 years of experience, Arvesta is now active in agriculture, horticulture, pet food/animal feed, and retail. Across all these domains and its 40 brands, the company strives to build the sustainable agriculture of tomorrow in partnership with farmers and market gardeners.
As a result of this diversity and mix of manufacturing and retail activities, Arvesta has a number of plants and retail sites across Belgium. With this level of physical infrastructure, energy is a critical cost component and a significant influencer on profitability. Recent energy market changes and cost increases, but also Arvesta’s continuous striving to be a pioneer in sustainable entrepreneurship, prompted Arvesta to launch a project with the goal of reducing energy costs and use by 20%. They reached out to Deloitte for help to develop a strategy and roadmap to achieve this objective.
“Arvesta has already taken important and impactful steps in recent years to keep energy costs under control, but saw Deloitte as a partner and accelerator to draw up a clear strategy and roadmap so that energy management can be conducted in a well thought-out, professional and sustainable way,” explains Cedric Jacobs, Indirect Procurement Manager at Arvesta.
Measuring and monitoring post-implementation performance
To benchmark existing energy use, the Deloitte team’s initial step was to investigate the as-is through plant visits and interviews with Arvesta energy ambassadors. Outputs of this investigation were used to identify potential energy reduction actions, including quick wins and mid- to long-term initiatives.
Prioritising energy initiatives, the team proceeded to build business cases for each, then designed a proof of concept (PoC) for an energy monitoring solution, using historical data. These steps culminated in a roadmap for moving from the current as-is situation to the targeted to-be energy efficient position, including a monitoring solution to track progress.
This energy monitoring PoC was implemented in the first production plant and will later be rolled out to additional plants, and eventually to the other business units including retail.
Arvesta has already taken important and impactful steps in recent years to keep energy costs under control, but saw Deloitte as a partner and accelerator to draw up a clear strategy and roadmap so that energy management can be conducted in a well thought-out, professional and sustainable way.
Cedric Jacobs, Indirect Procurement Manager at Arvesta.
"Collaborating with Arvesta on their energy efficiency journey exemplifies Deloitte's commitment to driving sustainable innovation in the agricultural sector. Together, we're shaping a greener, more profitable future for Arvesta and the communities they serve."
Joris Van Malderen, Enterprise & Performance Partner at Deloitte
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About Arvesta
What once started as a small company grew into a strong player with over 120 years of expertise in the agricultural and horticultural sector. Today Arvesta is Belgium's largest full-service partner for farmers and horticulturists with a strong international network that continues to grow. They are active in animal feed, agriculture and horticulture, machinery, flour and are known for their 200 Aveve shops and 3 Eurotuin shops.
