Italian perishable logistics and handling company Clerici Logistics Group is reported to have undertaken a strategic review of its business following the loss in 2007 of a major contract with Chiquita to handle its banana imports.

According to a story published in national newspaper La Repubblica, the group is looking to streamline its operations in order to face up to an increasingly testing economic climate by 'shortening its chain of command' in order to speed up the decision-making process.

Clerici combines expertise in shipping, port handling and logistics through a number of subsidiaries, including its fresh produce terminal operations at the ports of Genoa and Salerno and its perishable supply chain service provider Med Reefer.

Last July, Med Reefer's South American arm, Med Reefer Sud America, purchased Xm Global, a group of leading logistics providers based in Argentina.

Clerici Group also signed a deal last year with French company Etb Seafrigo, which nominated Med Reefer Sud America as its agent in Argentina.

And in a sign of its increasing focus on providing specialised logistics services, Med Reefer was recently awarded an agency contract to serve the Italian market by reefer shipping giant LCL.

However, the loss of Chiquita's business is understood to have precipitated a decrease in the volume of fresh produce handled by the group during 2008, with turnover falling from €14m compared with €22m during the previous 12 months.

Luigi Negri, president of Terminal Contenitori Porto di Genova, has predicted a 20 per cent downturn in volumes through the Port of Genoa this year.

Topics