Delivering it fresh

Logistics providers are continually searching for ways to manage the transportation of perishable cargo effectively. According to industry statistics, between 30 and 40 per cent of some countries' perishables suffer damage, essentially, this means failure in storage, transportation and in distribution.

Perishable products in transport are susceptible to both tampering and spoilage.

"This kind of cargo has a limited shelf life, and in the midst of the Middle East's high temperatures, a perishable logistics provider must have the expertise to handle goods correctly and to ensure that they reach their destinations in perfect condition.

Secondly, there is the pressure of making timely deliveries to meet consumer demand. This challenge is especially apparent in the rush leading up to special occasions such as Valentine's day," says Jack Mwaura, General Manager of Swift Perishable Logistics.

"Perishable logistics providers need a dedicated, rapid response team with the expertise to deal with highly temperature-sensitive shipments. They have to make careful choices when designating the carriers they are going to use. They must be prepared to offer an ever-changing spectrum of value-added services, such as vacuum and blast cooling, breaking and building consoles, bouquet assembly, labelling, re-labelling, and price tagging. Perishable logistics providers must ensure that they maintain the integrity of the cool chain throughout the shipment's entire journey," Mwaura added.

Logistics providers

Third Party Logistic providers are also increasingly playing a major role in perishable logistics. Protection materials such as insulated blankets, boxes, active temperature-controlled containers that offer heating and/or cooling and trucks with temperature control are provided by third parties and partially integrated in the service offer provided to the customer.

With years of operating experience, airlines have developed very effective handling techniques for chilled and frozen products, providing shippers with optimum, cost-efficient packaging methods for these time and temperature sensitive commodities.

"The unique challenges in Middle East include maintaining the cool chain at high ambient temperatures. Especially during the summer months temperature-sensitive goods need to be protected during ground handling on airport as well as to and from the airport.

Emirates SkyCargo has tailor-designed handling procedures in place.

Mobile temperature-controlled units — so-called 'cool dollies' are available for special protection during tarmac transportation of perishable goods at Dubai airport. In addition to physically protecting the goods, Emirates SkyCargo's offers excellent quick transit through Dubai, often in 2-3 hours," says Ram Menen, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

The perishables cargo trans-shipment facility at the Dubai Flower Centre (DFC) allows access to more than 112 airlines through the Dubai International Airport that serves more than 165 destinations.

"The DFC is committed to maintaining the cool chain throughout the handling process and uses the latest technology to ensure that the chain is never broken or distracted. A tightly controlled environment from plane to shipment prevents another break in the supply chain, where industry standards assume 20 per cent of the value of perishables to be lost," says Ibrahim Ahli, Marketing Director, Dubai Flower Centre.

Electronic Transfer Vehicles

"Refrigerated 'cool dollies' transfer pallets between DFC and aircraft, automated handling equipment moves perishable cargoes through X-ray to specially designed Electronic Transfer Vehicles (ETVs), and on through sealed temperature controlled air-locks to the storage area. The specialised facilities in the main building include laboratories, quality control operations, customs inspection, break and build areas and specialised cool-storage chambers where companies can add-value or process their products for onward transfer," says Ahli.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been in use for several decades to track and identify goods, assets and even living things. RFID tags combined with temperature, humidity, and other environmental monitors can provide the retailer with a record of travel conditions for perishable goods and determine the quality of the cargo.

Real-time visibility

As an extension of warehouse management, RFID is being used to achieve real-time visibility to goods across the supply chain, including international movements, tracking of inventory across company facilities and during the transportation process, and as goods move among trading partners.

According to V V Srinivass, Business Manager of the Netlink RFID, the technology is extensively used in logistics supply chains in Europe and the US.

"The clients in the region are beginning to feel the importance of implementing RFID System and there had been several projects which are already in the pilot stage and we expect full implementation in the coming future," he says.

Health, food quality, bio products and freshness are the focus of the consumer of tomorrow. Consequently, retailers will be demanding improved efficiency and logistic qualities in their supply chain.

Not only growers and exporters need to supply top qualities, but also the providers in the unbroken cool chain transportation need to meet this new demand for superior quality.

The Cool Chain Quality Indicators is the recently developed international standard for certification of the reliability, quality and proficiency of companies active in the cold logistics industry. This standard is aimed at businesses offering services such as transport, storage and handling of perishable and temperature-sensitive products.