Spicemasters: Data Driven Control of Spices

Spicemasters is growing. For that reason, the family business wants deeper insights into its data and can no longer rely solely on experience and know-how. With Aptean’s food solution, the company opted for a phased ERP approach: first purchasing, then sales and inventory, and now production as well. The results are better control and a system that works for everyone.

Spicemasters and Mouw Maalderij in Harderwijk together form a family-owned spice business. Elske Mouw, managing director, has been at the helm with her brother Gerlant for two and a half years. “My father started Mouw Maalderij 50 years ago, processing dried vegetables. My brother took over the business 20 years ago and made the switch to spices.”

The mill focuses on processing spices and herbs, from sterilising, grinding, and blending to crushing, packaging, and storage for a wide range of customers across Europe. The business also handles international purchasing and sales. “We source globally, process everything here and supply the European food industry.”

A Valued Natural Product

“Spices and herbs have something special,” Elske says. “They are natural products, and they are different every single time. Black pepper from Vietnam is not the same as pepper from Brazil. The same goes for ginger, mace, cardamom or cinnamon, in aroma, color and composition.”

That variation makes the work fascinating, but also complex. “We source products from countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Tanzania and Brazil. Everything that happens in the world, from import duties to climate issues, affects us. When buying pepper in the supermarket, you’re not aware of that entire world behind it.”

That world has become increasingly complex in recent years. Meanwhile, Spicemasters has continued to grow. “We didn’t have an ERP system,” Elske says. “We relied on knowledge and experience, supported by Excel. That no longer worked.”

Operations Manager Marjon Otten adds: “We had insight, but it wasn’t concrete. We had no data to verify it. And without that, you can’t steer effectively.”

Implementing in Phases

The choice of Aptean Food & Beverage ERP solution was not made overnight. Elske explains: “My brother had already looked into it earlier. When I joined, I picked the process back up.”

Together with Sawan Mahabier, Lead Consultant at Aptean, a clear plan was drawn up. “In July 2024, we wanted to go live with purchasing, sales, and inventory at Spicemasters. Sawan said: ‘that’s ambitious’. But we made it,” she says proudly.

They deliberately chose a phased approach. First, Spicemasters was set up for purchasing, sales and inventory. Production, Mouw Maalderij, followed in early 2026. Elske adds: “But an ERP system is never finished. It evolves, just like we do.”

Simplicity Is Essential

The production rollout required particular attention. “It has to be so simple that everyone can work with it,” says Elske. “We have people who have worked here for many years and have a lot of knowledge in their heads.”

Aptean supported them with the right approach. “Registration has to be done properly. Working with an ERP system forces discipline in administration, but it must not restrict the company’s flexibility or slow down day-to-day operations,” Marjon says.

Martine Vrolijk, Account Manager Food & Beverage at Aptean, recognises the phases Elske and Marjon describe. “At many growing food companies, you can see Excel and stand-alone systems no longer suffice. ERP helps introduce structure.”

According to her, Aptean’s strength lies in its industry expertise. “We build on Microsoft Business Central and add specific food functionality. Think of traceability, pricing, production, quality, and warehouse management.”

Intensive Collaboration

“You don’t get value from a product alone,” Martine continues. “Implementation is just as important. That’s why we work with a dedicated team for each customer. Sawan is the linchpin here. He keeps the overview and brings in Aptean specialists from the team where needed.”

Elske appreciates that approach. “Sawan understands us. He really wants to grasp the processes and easily translates them for production staff and management. And he’s not afraid to tell us when we’re making things too complicated. The collaboration is intensive, but it delivers transparency, efficiency and a more innovative way of working.”

“In 2024, we gained real insight, and that leads to different strategic choices.” Marjon adds.: “We now steer based on data. Per order, per day, per month.”

Looking Ahead

Aptean is also looking to the future. “Our solutions are fully cloud-based,” Martine explains. “That prepares companies for new developments, such as AI. Soon, you’ll be able to ask your ERP simple questions like: ‘What was my revenue last month?’”

Spicemasters’s ambitions are clear. “We want to keep growing,” Elske says. “But in a controlled way.”

Marjon points to opportunities for further automation, reporting, and production efficiency. “AI agents for order processing are interesting, but first everything has to be right.”

Elske concludes: “We now have insight, transparency, and structure. That helps us take the next steps in professionalising our organisation.”

Source: https://vakbladvoedingsindustrie.nl/nl/artikel/spicemasters-met-data-grip-op-specerijen

Pictures: @Koos Groenewold

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