Their relief was clear to see: Just a few hours earlier, twelve employees from PENNY and REWE Group Fruchtlogistik had passed their final examination to become certified "Fruit and Vegetable Quality Control Specialists".
The twelve form the second group after the premiere in 2019, when the coronavirus pandemic delayed the ambitious REWE Group quality management curriculum. The setting for the certificate presentation ceremony was chosen to match the exclusivity of the course: The participants received their certificates in a church. The church is part of the Collegium Leoninum in Bonn, once the residence of candidates for the priesthood of the diocese of Aachen.
The success of the specialists, in turn, was solely due to an earthly virtue: diligent learning. It was a challenging mixture of merchandise theory and incoming goods inspection practice that awaited the participants over the past six months at the fruit logistics warehouse in Wiesloch.
Caroline Menne and Josef Lüneburg-Wolthaus were delighted with the graduates
Caroline Menne from the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Bonn/Rhein-Sieg) confirmed that the graduates had achieved a high level of learning. She emphasised the unique selling point of this training course. In its combination of theory and practice and the cooperation between the IHK, REWE Group and Fruchthandelsverband, the course is still unique.
In his welcoming address, Badhyl Qerkini, Managing Director of REWE Group Fruit Logistics, emphasised the importance of the quality assurance function, especially for the sensitive product group: "Fruit and vegetables are a key topic for the stores and the ticket to success; it strengthens our competitive position."
Laudator Badhyl Qerkini, Managing Director of REWE Group Fruit Logistics
Dr Josef Lüneburg-Wolthaus, Head of Quality Management Fruit & Vegetables, REWE Group, could only agree with this. Lüneburg-Wolthaus emphasised the great responsibility of the quality assurance specialists: "Our aim is to offer the best fruit and vegetables. They are the filter."
And so the real challenge still awaits the ambitious candidates: applying their newly acquired expertise in the hustle and bustle of everyday business. A demanding task, but also a career opportunity, as one or two participants on the first course have already discovered.
"Take the momentum with you!"
Badhyl Qerkini, Managing Director of REWE Group Fruit Logistics
"You were there with your heart."
Oliver Dobusch, Head of Quality Management Fruit & Vegetables Platforms
"Your job sometimes also means being a buzzkill."
Josef Lüneburg-Wolthaus, Head of Quality Management Fruit & Vegetables, REWE Group
"Stay curious!"
Seminar leader Susanne König from the German Fruit Trade Association
