Fresh Produce Consortium tour north of England gateway
For Immediate Release - 19 November, 2008
Leading figures in the fresh produce trade took a walk through a new gateway for imported fruit and vegetables bound for a market of 30 million consumers in the northern half of Britain.
View larger imageConsortium members at the new terminal with Port of Liverpool and Go-Associates representatives
Twenty eight members of the Fresh Produce Consortium visited the Port of Liverpool to view the £6 million quayside cool store built by Peel Ports Group and operated by Go-Associates Limited.
Reefer vessels will be able to berth alongside Liverpool Produce Terminal (LPT) at Royal Seaforth Dock to swiftly discharge several thousand pallets of fresh produce directly into the coolstore.
The new gateway will initially offer a "green" and economic alternative to the convoy of trucks which travel across the Continent and up to the North of England throughout the Spanish fruit season.
Said Go-Associates Operations Director Andy Rickard: "This is a situation crying out for high volume direct delivery by sea. Liverpool Produce Terminal can discharge a ship with up to 5,000 pallets on board in just 24 hours - a realistic and environment friendly alternative to the150 trucks arriving each day in the North of England from Spain, each carrying just 26 pallets of produce."
The 90,000 sq ft cool store has four individually controlled chambers with a temperature range of 0°C to +14°C and able to accommodate produce four pallets high in the adjustable racking. It will operate around the clock, employing as many as 100 permanent and supplemental staff.
View larger imageAerial view of the terminal
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) is recognised across the UK and EU as the voice of the industry with an extensive membership including growers, importers, distributors, processors, packers, food service companies and allied organisations.
After the tour of Liverpool's facilities, FPC Chief Executive Nigel Jenney said: "This highly informative tour allowed our members to see for themselves the exciting potential for importing fresh produce through the Port of Liverpool, which is conveniently situated to reach 30 million consumers in the North of England.
"This facility brings a new approach to importing into the UK and increasing consumption of fresh produce. FPC wishes Liverpool Produce Terminal every success in developing this venture."
Go-Associates' Andy Rickard said the FPC visit had proved a huge success. "The members were very much impressed by the facility and the philosophy behind why we are doing what we are doing at Liverpool. They recognised that Liverpool offers location, location, location.
"Ten million tonnes of fresh produce are shipped into the UK each year and half of it comes up to the northern half of the country. It makes economic and environmental sense to bring that volume to the deepsea port that is closest to the population of 30 million people and is served by the best motorway network for rapid distribution direct to supermarkets."
Frank Robotham, Marketing Director for Peel Ports Group, which owns and operates the Port of Liverpool, said: "The development of Liverpool Produce Terminal is another example of how the Port of Liverpool with its central location, continues to make major contributions to the reduction of truck road miles. LPT is set to make a most significant contribution to the food transport industry's response to economic and environmental pressure to cut food miles and the carbon footprint."
The new terminal will also enable Peel Ports Group to supply fresh produce to the whole of the UK through the Port of Liverpool in the North and its established operations at the Port of Sheerness in the South East of England.
Press Enquiries:
- Peel Ports Group, Tel +44 (0)151-949-6000