BCT Treehub Cold Store in Zundert is the leading cold storage partner for the tree nursery industry. Located within the Business Centre Treeport, this modern cold storage facility offers growers and exporters the opportunity to store their products under ideal conditions. Director Chantal van Kuyck summarises their philosophy: ‘We handle our customers’ products as if they were our own. Flexibility, transparency and quality are key to everything we do.’

With 25 cooling cells – providing 50,000 cubic metres of conditioned space and 11,000 square metres of unconditioned storage – BCT Treehub Cold Store can handle nearly all product types, from nursery stock to food and animal products. Each cell can be individually set for temperature, humidity and misting. ‘We see it as our duty of care to add value to the process,’ explains Van Kuyck. ‘We don’t just provide cooling – we ensure full control over the product.’

That control is made possible through the in-house Warehouse Management System (WMS), which gives clients real-time insight into their stock levels and conditions. Growers are also welcome to visit and inspect their products in person. ‘Openness is part of who we are,’ says Van Kuyck. ‘We listen to our clients and continuously improve our processes based on their feedback. For example, we now immediately cool all incoming products instead of only the risk categories.’

In addition to storage, BCT Treehub Cold Store provides logistical support. Products can be collected or delivered on fixed days, inspected, consolidated and prepared for transport. ‘We don’t own any trucks ourselves, but through our partners we can arrange everything,’ Van Kuyck explains. ‘Thanks to camera monitoring and tag registration, drivers can access the right cell at any time, ensuring smooth handling.’

A good example is Boomkwekerij De Weimer in Wernhout. Grower Corné Leenaerts stores his potted roses at around 0.5°C to keep them dormant. ‘This way, the plants stay at rest and don’t sprout too early,’ he says. ‘BCT takes care of everything – from transport to placement and retrieval of the trolleys. We can call off our products whenever we need them.’

BCT Treehub Cold Store operates as an independent company, founded to serve the horticultural sector. Members of the Treeport Cooperative receive a discount, but all clients benefit from the same transparent rates. With ISO 22000 certification and NVWA approval, the facility can operate year-round and also store animal-based products. ‘We’re proud to be located in the heart of the tree nursery region,’ concludes Van Kuyck. ‘Once you’ve seen it, you’ll want to cool here.’