Liverpool Produce Terminal (LPT) is steaming ahead with its operations, after struggling to attract shipments in its first year.
The facility is now set to take considerable extra volumes into the North West port.
MacAndrews already operates three shipping services a week from Bilbao, Spain, to Liverpool, with the latest added only two weeks ago. In addition to the third Spanish route, MacAndrews is looking to add a service from the port of Leixoes, Portugal.
LPT receives citrus via the Spanish route and expects to develop volumes on the additional Spanish sailing.
The £6 million quayside cool store, which initially found it hard to attract custom, was built by Peel Ports Group and acquired by Cold Move Ltd in July 2009.
After a slow start to the Spanish citrus season, primarily due to climatic conditions, the terminal has seen business grow through retail volume and promotions both before and after Christmas.
Produce shipments, ordered by MMG Citrus and the new top-fruit division of Mack Multiples, have increased and it is hoped that the service from Portugal will attract custom from the produce trade soon after it first sails in the next two weeks.
James Woodward, managing director of LPT Ltd, told FPJ: “The addition of a third Spanish shipment a week is excellent news. In conjunction with MacAndrews, we can now offer the produce industry a full weekly supply chain solution from Spain. We are also very close to being able to provide solutions, via Liverpool, for South America and South Africa using feeder services from Rotterdam and possibly Las Palmas.”
Woodward added that Cold Move may also look to link up a feeder service from Chilean boats heading in to Bilbao. He also said logistical operations with Mersey Dock and Harbour Company were “excellent”.
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