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Seafrigo sets its sights on UK growth

[ November 18, 2024   //   ]

French-owned Seafrigo Group recently opened a new headquarters and base in Le Havre but it is also expanding rapidly in the UK.

In July 2023, the French food logistics specialist acquired UK-headquartered forwarder Perishables Movements Ltd (PML) which operates at Heathrow, and Kent in air, ocean and road, warehousing and value-added services.

Mike Parr, head of region UK and Ireland said that PML Seafrigo planned to move its Heathrow base at Feltham to a new site in mid-2026. It would be a 100-150,000sq ft facility able to offer chilled and frozen capacity as well as added-value operations like packing. The company carries out packing of imported airfreighted goods on-site to save road miles and increase shelf life, allowing goods to move straight off the plane to the retailers’ distribution centres.

“Demand for fresh fruit and vegetables is increasing,” says Mike Parr. “People are looking to get healthy.”

One customer is Blue Skies, which had already matched its entire 2023 volume by October this year. Its operation in Ghana provides not only much-needed jobs, but also housing, schools and other welfare for a village of 4,000 people.

PML Seafrigo’s other site at Hythe in Kent, has meanwhile proved a boon for goods arriving in the UK via the Channel Tunnel or port of Dover. Not only can it carry out all the plant health checks that would otherwise have to go to the congested facility at Sevington, but drivers can park up safe in the knowledge that their vehicles and loads are in the best hands as site security is provided by a contingent of ex-Ghurkas. Plug-in-points also allow truck reefer units to be run without using the diesel motor, which not only saves fuel but drastically cuts down noise levels for local residents.

There are male and female toilets and a food wagon on site.

Moreover, a 44,000sq ft warehouse allows any problem shipments in groupage loads to be offloaded while the rest of the vehicles continues on its way.

Now, PML Seafrigo is looking to expand its capacity for frozen food in Sevington, possibly by developing an adjacent plot of land.

Future developments in the UK, Mike Parr added, could include a Scottish site to cater for overseas exports such as salmon.

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