The highly coveted award recognizes PML Seafrigo’s commitment to delivering outstanding and seamless solutions for its customers. As part of the Seafrigo Group, the company has been at the forefront of revolutionising global logistics for temperature-controlled goods, showcasing world-leading expertise in the field.

Eric Barbe, President of the Seafrigo Group and Head of Region UK and Ireland Mike Parr, the key representatives of PML Seafrigo, were present at the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the company. This recognition highlights the company’s significant contributions to the fresh produce and floral industries.

“We are thrilled to receive this esteemed award,” said Mike Parr. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at PML Seafrigo and the Seafrigo Group. Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has always been at the core of our operations, and this award reinforces our position as a leader in the industry.”

The FPC Fresh Awards are known for acknowledging excellence in the fresh produce and floral sectors, making this win a significant milestone for PML Seafrigo. The company’s success in securing the Business Service Partner of the Year award underscores its pivotal role in supporting and advancing these industries through its logistics expertise.

This achievement is expected to further strengthen PML Seafrigo’s position in the market and reinforce its commitment to providing top-tier services to its clients in the fresh produce and floral sectors.

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The nomination recognizes PML Seafrigo’s outstanding contributions and dedication to the fresh produce sector. This achievement highlights the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in its business services.

Representatives from PML Seafrigo will attend the awards ceremony in London on September 27th, joining fellow industry professionals for this highly anticipated event. The team expressed their gratitude for the nomination and their excitement about the upcoming ceremony.

“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for this prestigious award,” said a spokesperson for PML Seafrigo. “It’s a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome!”

The FPC Fresh Awards celebrate excellence across the fresh produce industry, honouring companies and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance and innovation. The Business Service Partner category specifically recognizes organizations that have provided outstanding support and services to the sector.

As the awards night approaches, PML Seafrigo extends its thanks to its partners, clients, and the wider industry for their continued support. The company looks forward to joining its peers in celebrating the achievements of the fresh produce sector at this landmark event.

Stay tuned for updates on the results of the FPC Fresh Awards. CopyRetry

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The announcement follows a reorganisation of the PML Seafrigo management team which also sees Ryan Parr assume the role of Operations Director for the UK and Ireland, overseeing the efficient and seamless transfer of temperature sensitive goods by air, ocean and road.

Commenting on the appointment, Seafrigo Group CEO Eric Barbé said, “Mike’s profound knowledge, understanding and expertise within the perishable goods market and his impressive reputation within the sector, not just as a successful business operator but also as a key figurehead and spokesperson who is regularly sought out to comment on the challenges facing our industry, combine to make him the natural candidate to continue PML Seafrigo’s growth and development. Seafrigo has exciting expansion plans in place to enable the business to continue in its journey, to becoming the world’s leading end-to-end temperature-controlled food logistics solution and I’m confident that under Mike’s stewardship, PML Seafrigo will be integral in the future success of Seafrigo Group.”

Mike Parr says, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be working closely with Mr Barbé to lead PML Seafrigo into the next phase of its development. Of course, when PML was sold to Seafrigo, I did consider retiring but I soon realised that I’m just not ready to adapt to the quiet life and still absolutely love the buzz associated with working in this sector! By harnessing the global presence and extensive resources associated with both companies, together with the shared ongoing commitment to the delivery of a best-in-class customer service, I firmly believe that PML Seafrigo will further enhance its reputation for excellence within the specialist field of logistics and supply chain solutions for perishable goods.”  

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The renowned event, which enjoys a heritage in excess of 125 years, champions world-class producers of cheese and dairy produce, and attracts the attention of UK retailers as well as international buyers. It is widely recognised as a global platform for excellence, and designed to showcase the category’s best-in-class products from both UK and overseas competitors.

PML Seafrigo, which has an established reputation for the seamless transfer of temperature-sensitive consignments, will be responsible for supporting international producers by handling the movement of their precious cheese entries into the UK. As an acknowledged leading player in perishable goods logistics, cheeses handled by PML Seafrigo are literally in the safest hands. The combined industry experience of PML and Seafrigo is approaching 70 years, underpinning the company’s unparalleled knowledge and understanding of the challenges associated with working in this specialist sector.

Commenting on the partnership, director of the ICDA, Debbie Stewart says: “We are thrilled to be working with such a highly-regarded industry player, and it is fitting that at an event which celebrates the pinnacle of professional cheesemaking, we are joining forces with the internationally-acclaimed specialist responsible for the safe and efficient inward and outward transfer of cheese and other perishable goods”.

ICDA Chairman Ian Luxton, who is General Manager of Belton Farm, comments: “We are delighted that PML Seafrigo has become a Key Sponsor of one of the world’s oldest cheese and dairy awards, now 127 years old, and that the business is supporting the movement of competitive entries from across the world, using their considerable expertise in global freight movement”.

Exhibition Area – Stand 1317

In addition to lending its professional services to the awards, PML Seafrigo will also exhibit in the ICDA’s Producer Area on Stand 1317 to shine a light on the company’s UK and international operations, and to raise awareness of its commitment to ‘owning every step’ of the supply chain journey from country of origin producer to the retailer.

All visitors to the ICDA are welcome to visit the PML Seafrigo team on Stand 1317 to discuss how the perishable expert can add value to any cheese producer/exporter/importer’s logistics.

Industry Meeting

On Thursday 27 June at 10am, the PML Seafrigo stand will host an important industry meeting to discuss the future of importing/exporting cheese internationally.

All visitors are invited to join us for coffee, tea, and pastries, while we pave the way forward for excellence in cheese logistics.

Following the meeting there will be a chance to network with fellow cheese professionals.

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The common user charge (CUC) is effectively another business tax that will be applied to each commodity line in a Common Health Entry Document (CHED). Although fees are capped – £145 for every consignment arriving via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel –this is another expense for importers and retailers to bear, which will of course be reflected in further delays at the ports and another price hike for essential food items.

What is particularly frustrating is that the fee is being levied for all fresh produce / plants goods passing through Dover or Folkestone – even if they don’t pass through the government controlled inspection post at Sevington.

PML Seafrigo has its own 24/7 border control post at Lympne, which is the closest point of entry to the Port of Dover (closer than Sevington), we have a dedicated transport and logistics hub for imported goods and yet our customers will still be charged the CUC even though they will not be using the Sevington facility. The government is effectively asking businesses such as ours to collect taxes on their behalf. And the fact that this fee will be reviewed and updated annually by Defra is itself worrying, it could easily be increased in 12 months’ time. 

Once again, the consumer will ultimately pay the price not just due to the inflated cost of these goods but also, via a reduced availability of certain food items. Post-Brexit, there is a growing reluctance to export fresh produce to the UK because it is now fraught with bureaucratic policies and red tape and this latest additional cost is just further ammunition for that argument.

All this at a time when we were under the impression that the government was encouraging the nation to consume more fresh produce as part of the drive towards a healthier lifestyle. This will ensure the exact opposite result.

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The logistics sector is once again reeling following the unexpected announcement on Wednesday (24 January 2024) that a broad range of European fruit and vegetables is to be recategorised from low risk to medium risk – thus necessitating physical inspections at UK border posts.

The news marks yet another U-turn by the UK government which will have a profound impact on those operating in the transfer of perishable fruit and vegetables from Europe into the UK and ultimately, on the availability of fresh produce on the supermarket shelves. We’ve already endured so much chaos at the behest of officials who seem to be either oblivious or simply don’t care regarding the ramifications of their erratic decision making.

In July 2022, I spoke out following the decision to defer the planned checks on European plant and animal produce and sympathised with the news that British ports were contemplating taking legal action after investing heavily in post Brexit border control facilities. Facilities that were then not required when the timelines were changed.

Since then, the proposed physical checks on fresh food and plants coming into the UK has been constantly delayed. The sector responsible for the transfer of perishable goods has been admirably represented by the Fresh Produce Consortium who has worked tirelessly to put forward the industry’s concerns and at the back end of last year, we all thought that finally, we knew where we stood and could plan our business activities accordingly.

Now once again the goal posts have been changed and the industry is in turmoil.

We have not been privy to the risk assessments that have led to those in power to decree that certain fruit and vegetables now represent a medium risk and must therefore be inspected, so remain baffled as to why there has been a complete retraction of all that has been previously debated and agreed.

We are still waiting to understand whether commercial border control points, such as that operated by PML Seafrigo at its Kent logistics and transport hub, will be approved to conduct these inspections.

We do not know if the proposed Authorised Operator Status (AOS) programme – which was designed to enable those with a designated Border Control Post to undertake the appropriate training to perform the planned physical and identity import checks – is going to be rolled out. Our staff were trained 10 months ago.

We remain in the dark as to whether or not the new Border Control Post Common User Charge is applicable to commercial Border Control Posts.

What we do know is that this latest directive will signal major disruption in the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables to the UK. Prices will inevitably be driven up as more European producers take the decision to boycott the UK market due to the unacceptable costs and frankly, pure hassle, associated with exporting to Britain.

We also know that the facility at Sevington is simply not equipped to cope and the resulting queues for drivers trying to access the government Border Control Post will cripple the transport network. And of course, result in perishable goods sitting in transit for lengthy periods which will have a detrimental impact on shelf life.

Furthermore, if the government goes ahead with this system, Sevington is unable to provide the necessary temperature-controlled warehousing facilities or sufficient staff to enable the removal of certain items from a groupage consignment, which means that a whole consignment would be condemned rather than individual items.

The UK is becoming a laughing stock and many producers are simply not interested in working within its ever-changing logistics landscape. And at a time when the whole nation is being encouraged to engage in a healthier lifestyle which includes eating more fresh fruit and vegetables – in part to ease the burden on the NHS – these very items are likely to become less available and more expensive.

PML Seafrigo is prepared and ready for the new inspection regime and we have the capability to offload problematic shipments at our Kent Border Control Post. But we – like others – can only be effective if our questions are answered and if decisions taken are adhered to.

To say we are frustrated is an understatement.

– Mike Parr, PML Seafrigo Director

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The global logistics and supply chain specialist’s LCL service to New York, enables the successful transfer of the best of British artisan foods to the States in just 11 days, with specialist cheeses proving particularly popular with America’s retailers.

PML Seafrigo is currently running the LCL offering on a monthly basis with the last pre-Christmas consignment already having left the UK. In addition to LCL, PML Seafrigo provides a FCL (Full Container Load) route, with one of the top five multiples shipping a container of cheese every week via this route.

Commenting on the success of the London to New York line, PML Seafrigo’s Director of Ocean and Road, Ian Shuttlewood says: “We’re delighted with the uptake amongst specialist food producers who have been quick to recognise the benefits of this highly cost-effective freight solution to the US (customers only pay for the space they use in the container).”

Shuttlewood continues: “Cheese has definitely proved our most popular export during the festive period but looking ahead, we anticipate significant interest from premium chocolate producers keen to capitalise on the major windows of opportunity represented by Valentine’s Day and Easter, as retailers seek out new gifting solutions from the UK. We have the capability to create a dedicated chocolate chamber within the container to cater for the specific temperature requirements of chocolate, whilst our warehousing facilities in the UK and US offer a similar facility to ensure the seamless, efficient transfer of this highly temperature sensitive cargo, providing producers with the confidence that their fine chocolate goods will arrive at the final destination in optimum condition.”

According to research by CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overall, British chocolate exports to the EU have been significantly reduced after Brexit, while exports to non-EU countries like China, the USA and Australia have increased. Marry this statement with the fact that US imports of chocolate exceed those of the next largest importer by over a billion U.S. dollars (Statista August 2023) and it clear to see the sales potential for UK chocolatiers.

Artisan producers looking to export to the US can find out more about the LCL service by contacting PML Seafrigo direct, email: i.shuttlewood@seafrigo.com

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The newly launched London to New York line is likely to appeal to a variety of producers spanning the cheese, chocolate, charcuterie and dry goods (e.g. premium biscuits) sectors, looking to exploit the US’s ongoing love of fine foods from the UK. As an LCL service (Less than Container Load) customers only pay for the space they use in the container, with the goods of several clients placed in one container resulting in a highly cost-effective freight solution.

According to the Department for Business & Trade, the US is the UK’s third-largest market for Food and Drink exports, which totalled £2.0 billion in 2021 (HMRC, December 2021), with cheese, identified as an emerging category in the US with a high growth potential.

This fact combined with the increased complexities and costs associated with exporting perishable goods to Europe in the post Brexit landscape is heralding a strong interest in shipping goods to the US. Producers of temperature sensitive foods, such as cheese and chocolate, are key targets with PML Seafrigo providing  a secure route which guarantees a seamless, timely transfer and an unbroken cold chain, that includes a dedicated Seafrigo-owned cheese warehouse facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

PML Seafrigo’s service which is suitable for single pallets or sample cases, includes pickup, consolidation and storage in the UK and deconsolidation, storage and delivery in the US. Throughout the entire freight transfer journey, PML Seafrigo is in full control of the cargo, from the time of collection through to arrival at the US destination, providing producers with complete peace of mind and full traceability of the consignment. 

Seafrigo’s established customs clearance expertise enables the container to be unloaded from the quay as soon as it arrives with an onward transfer to the company’s bonded warehouse in New Jersey, saving time and avoiding potential delays at the docks.

The final mile of the journey, from the warehouse to the customer destination, is completed on a Seafrigo truck or on the truck of one of Seafrigo’s trusted and approved partners. 

Commenting on the new service offered by PML Seafrigo, Ian Shuttlewood, UK GM – Ocean Product & Operations says: “This represents an exciting opportunity for specialist producers looking for a hassle-free solution to develop a new route to market in the US. We can now provide a complete end-to-end temperature-controlled transfer, using our bonded warehouses which enables customs clearance on site. PML Seafrigo’s colleagues in the US handle picking, packing and container building, with onsite screening and quality control protocols. 

Shuttlewood continues: “As per the service we operate in Europe, we will manage all the necessary freight forwarding documentation allowing the customer to concentrate on their skills as a fine food producer rather than worry about the logistics of transatlantic travel. The combined industry experience of PML and Seafrigo represents approaching 70 years in the logistics sector, so the goods are literally in the safest hands. Our renowned knowledge and understanding of the challenges associated with perishable goods is second to none and we will always identify the most appropriate – and sometimes bespoke – solution for customers to ensure a successful transfer. This includes specialist thermal foil for chocolate to ensure added protection against temperature fluctuations.”

PML Seafrigo is also well placed, subject to demand, to offer routings to other key markets such as Dubai and Hong Kong.

The post Fine Food Producers Offered New Chilled Service to the USA appeared first on PML.

With Seafrigo enjoying a 47-year heritage, and PML celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2023, the combined knowledge and expertise of both companies within the temperature-controlled goods sector is impressive, and reinforces the Seafrigo ‘world-leading specialist in temperature-controlled logistics’ proposition.  For PML Seafrigo customers, the move provides clear opportunities to capitalise upon Seafrigo’s extensive geographic reach to deliver a truly global, secure end-to-end solution.

In line with Seafrigo making a conscious decision to be asset heavy to enable complete control of the entire cold chain and avoid reliance on third parties, acquiring PML provides ownership of the company’s HMRC/DEFRA approved Border Control Posts and ERTS bonded warehouse facilities in Kent and Heathrow – in addition to expanding its superior UK customs handling service. It also represents an opportunity to grow its European road freight offering, increasing its HGV fleet by a further 30 Euro 6 compliant lorries, six of which feature the pioneering powered roller bed floor system representing a UK first. 

PML Seafrigo customers will now benefit from seamless access to new supply chain routes all over the world, across air, ocean and road, which includes an exciting new product for ocean freight customers.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jason Spencer-Knox says, “These are exciting times for Seafrigo and PML Seafrigo. Not only do the two businesses align in terms of their product offering and dedication to offering an exceptional service which ensures the transfer of temperature-controlled goods with no break in the cold chain, they also share a similar ethos in terms of an overriding commitment to always place the needs of the customer at the heart of any corporate decision making, choosing to remain autonomous rather than developing reliance on services controlled by third parties. The sensitive nature of the freight that we both specialise in requires the utmost attention to detail to guarantee an efficient and speedy transfer to maximise shelf life, the ‘golden mile’ is a major hurdle for growers, producers and manufacturers, especially in light of the additional challenges presented by Brexit, PML Seafrigo represents a safe and reliable partner to complete the journey.  Bringing PML into the Seafrigo fold brings us one step closer to realising our ambition to become the fastest and largest integrated perishable supply chain provider in the UK and globally.”

Mike Parr, PML Seafrigo Director says, “As a business we’ve always taken pride in being ahead of the curve, constantly innovating our product offering and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the industry. Our priority remains to offer a best-in-class service for perishable goods and by providing our customers with a direct route to the global infrastructure available via Seafrigo, we can continue to grow our operations, supplying genuinely worldwide logistics and supply chain solutions delivered with the outstanding knowledgeable and highly personalised customer care for which PML is renowned. After 20 years’ in the industry, we are looking forward to embracing this new phase of growth and expansion whilst also providing our staff with excellent career development opportunities.”

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PML Seafrigo is delighted to share that the company has been named among the finalists for the Fresh Produce Consortium’s (FPC) Fresh Awards 2023, not just once but twice!

The team is in the running for the Business Service Partner award, while our very own Joseph Sanders (Seafreight Operations Clerk) is up for the Rising Star of the Year gong. 

The Business Service Partner Award will be presented to the stand-out company which during the last year has gone above and beyond to provide essential business support to the UK fresh produce/cut flower industry, within the field of: logistics, packaging, IT, ports, shipping, machinery, freight forwarding, science labs and chemical manufacture.

The Rising Star of the Year Award is an exciting accolade that identifies the under 30-year-old ‘young guns’ working in the fresh produce and cut flower sectors who have shown vision, creativity, and determination.

FPC Fresh Awards is a prestigious annual event hosted every year by the FPC. It represents an important opportunity for the fresh produce industry to unite to celebrate success, network in-person and make life-long connections.

FPC’s annual Fresh Awards recognise the produce industry’s finest, and PML Seafrigo is up against some great names in both awards categories. 

We wish everyone the best of luck! 

FPC Fresh Awards 2023 will be held on Friday 29 September at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

The full list of 2023 finalists can be viewed here. 

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