Looking Back on 2018.
It is hard to believe that we are heading into the final months of 2018. Looking back, 2018 has been a very busy year at ArdoVLM. February saw our import oversight practices being reviewed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of that agency’s Importer/Foreign Supplier Verification Program compliance inspection process. Similarly, as the only food importer certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Trusted Trader, ArdoVLM has been at work with our fellow Trusted Traders as well as with officials from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in testing new trade facilitation measures of benefit to importers adhering to best in class compliance practices.
A Visit from the Belgian Queen.
In March, Ardo Chairman Phillippe Haspeslagh represented Belgian business leaders as part of Belgium’s first state visit to Canada in over 40 years. The visit saw their Royal Highnesses, the King and Queen of the Belgians, engaging in dialogue with Canadian government, civil society and business leaders in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. As part of the official program in Montreal, ArdoVLM’s Mark FeDuke spoke at a Belgian Consulate organized trade and logistics event which included presentations by Montreal and Belgian port authorities as well as the Honourable Marc Garneau, Canadian Minister for Transport.
Travelling the Globe.
Through the spring and into the summer ArdoVLM staff crisscrossed the globe to attend trade fairs, assess crop conditions and catching up with friends who just happen to be vendors and clients as well.
New Teammates.
As our business continues to expand new teammates have come onboard with specializations in food safety oversight, logistics expertise, customer service excellence and business partnership development. Among the new faces many of you will get to know is John Bevevino, our Texas based Director of Foodservices adding additional depth to our U.S. based commercial team.
While some express concern that current trade tensions may change well established trade routes and supply chain networks, as true specialists in the international trade of food with an unparalleled degree of expertise in this space, you can count on ArdoVLM’s team to serve your needs…and we have a great deal of exciting news yet to come in 2018!