It’s summer already! And what better way to start it than by interviewing Yolanda Zapata Espinosa, Key Account Manager at Tosca, who shares some very interesting aspects about her company.
1. How many years have you been working around broccoli?
Since our inception, the company has focused on developing packaging specifically for the horticultural sector. The design focuses on the ventilation needs of fresh products, as well as their protection and care, with the aim of extending their shelf life during transportation and storage. Given our commitment to this sector, we have launched and will continue to work on developing specific products for different types of fruits and vegetables, always considering the specific conditions of each product.
2. What stands out the most about our favorite vegetable?
It is one of the most beneficial vegetables for health due to its high level of properties that provide significant benefits to the body. It is low in calories, rich in vitamins, antioxidants, excellent for combating anemia, and contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, it offers countless possibilities when cooking and accompanying our dishes.
3. Broccoli is considered by more and more people as the food of the 21st century; how do you think its evolution will be in the coming years?
We are in a time where personal care and health are on the rise. Society is more aware that adopting a healthy lifestyle and caring for nutrition reduces the chances of various diseases. Just as 20 years ago, few knew about the existence of broccoli, and it was produced at the request of certain European markets (such as the UK), in a short time, this vegetable is becoming more present in the diet, and this trend is expected to continue to rise in the coming years.
4. We would like to understand your activity and what your competitive advantages are.
Tosca is a leading company in the comprehensive management of packaging (pool) for the entire supply chain through a wide range of products (boxes, containers, displays, and reusable plastic pallets). We develop packaging in collaboration with our customers, analyzing their processes and proposing new products that best suit their needs. Our mission is to find the best logistics solution. We focus on the added value we provide to producers, from the production area to the final destination of the product. Our reusable plastic containers optimize processes, using the same container throughout the entire process, making our customers more efficient, simplifying processes, and ensuring the protection of the content throughout, avoiding unnecessary handling. Additionally, we can incorporate new technologies to monitor temperature during transport or improve product traceability, allowing our customers to be more efficient and reduce losses.
At Tosca, we are committed to sustainability; we are a sustainable company concerned about the environment. Our packaging contributes to the development of a circular economy. They are reusable and fully recyclable at the end of their life. Furthermore, thanks to our foldability ratios, we help our customers be more sustainable, reducing emissions in reverse logistics.
5. How do you approach innovation in plastic packaging and pallets?
Among the main challenges currently facing the sector are cost optimization and sustainability. Focusing on these points, we seek to develop new proposals that allow our customers to reduce costs through more efficient products that simplify processes or take up less space (both in reverse logistics and storage). At Tosca, we have an internal R&D department and our own factory, working on the incorporation of new materials and the development of new designs specifically aimed at this sector. Reusable plastic presents multiple benefits in terms of hygiene, being a non-porous material that guarantees cleanliness and avoids the risk of cross-contamination.
6. Have you noticed a change in dietary trends in society? What has this meant for your activity in recent years?
As mentioned earlier, personal care and health are currently on the rise. There is a trend towards increasingly healthy eating, and consumers are becoming more demanding about the type of product they consume. At Tosca, we have adapted our packaging to meet the new requirements and expectations of consumers, who demand a high level of information about the product, achieved through comprehensive traceability systems that allow us to control the entire process from the field to the sales floor. Additionally, we have worked on the aesthetic aspect of our packaging to provide a careful presentation of the product to the customer, as seen in our wood-imitation packaging.
7. Since when have you been collaborating with Más Brócoli? And what do you appreciate most about this collaboration?
We started collaborating with Más Brócoli over 5 years ago. Más Brócoli promotes the sector significantly, works hard on the product’s image, creating greater visibility in the market, which contributes significantly to boosting the consumption behavior of society. We truly value direct contact with the market, allowing us to understand the sector’s evolution and adapt to its needs. These interactions are vital for the company to find the solutions our customers need, not only in terms of products but also in terms of services.
8. Lastly, any favorite recipe that none of our fans should miss?
After giving it some thought, I must admit that I cannot choose just one recipe. It must be acknowledged that broccoli is delicious no matter how you prepare it… even raw! And if not, just ask my daughter!