Air and sea freight specialist HPL has gone multi-modal by adding European trucking to its offer this season. "The response from customers has been very positive and business has increased month on month since we started offering the trucking service in April," said HPL's Colin Pickup.

The initiative has already seen HPL bring in large programmes of stone fruit for customers from Spain and France, often directly into supermarket regional distribution centres.

"The HPL philosophy is to provide a one-stop logistics solution," said Pickup. "This allows the importer or retailer to consolidate their trucking requirements through one provider giving the importer more control over the cost and delivery of their produce with the added benefit of HPL staff on hand in the UK to co-ordinate this."

Another potential advantage is HPL's year-round pricing policy eliminating importers' exposure to fluctuating haulage costs.

HPL is already looking beyond Europe for its trucking service. "Morocco is growing in importance as a source for fresh produce and we are looking to set up a Morocco service within the next few months in time for the new season," said Pickup.

HPL has had trucking offices open in Valencia and Amsterdam for three years and has serviced the Scandinavian retail sector through these. With its European partners the transport-provider has a combined fleet of 700 refrigerated vehicles at its disposal as well as controlled atmosphere trailers.

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