Capespan’s direct programmed volumes of South African top fruit into Tesco this year will be significantly lower, as the UK’s biggest retailer ramps up its own direct procurement through its Produce Group Sourcing scheme.

The roll-out of the direct sourcing model by UK multiples has led to considerable change for companies fulfilling traditional importer or even category manager roles.

For this reason, Capespan has set up a new company - The Fresh Chain - as an entirely separate legal entity to provide logistics services for growers, UK importers and retailers.

John Counsell, commercial director of The Fresh Chain, said: “We have set up The Fresh Chain to reflect changes within the fresh produce market and to focus on logistics such as documentation, warehousing, ripening and packing, providing services for a number of UK importers, including Capespan. The Fresh Chain has been operational for six months and has the infrastructure, expertise and people to provide these services... The company can meet requirements from the time a container arrives in a UK port until product is despatched.”

Capespan md Ronan Lennon said: “We believe that The Fresh Chain facilities at Sheerness are strategically well placed to handle a significant percentage of our product. The Fresh Chain has British Retail Consortium and Ethical Trading Base Code accreditation, plus Tesco Food Manufacturers’ Standard.”

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