EAS confident of growing its perishable niche

RAY SMUTS ADVERSE EXPORT trading conditions notwithstanding, Basson Piek, general manager: international for Express Air Services (EAS), shares the view of his customers; the country’s perishable export market is far from mature and destined for bigger things. “We believe, as do our customers, that despite poor export conditions such as the strong rand and fierce competition from South American countries, the perishable export market will show a significant growth pattern forward. “With this in mind and given that we have absolute neutrality in the market, we believe the EAS perishable handling operation provides the solution for many existing perishable agents as well as new entrants into an ever-expanding market.” Piek believes that EAS, with its 900 m2 state-of-the art cooling facility at Johannesburg International Airport’s Perishable Cargo Triangle, has in recent years established itself as a market force in the handling of perishable air cargo. The facility consists of three separate cool rooms running between 0 and 5C capable of performing ‘forced cooling’ if so required by customers. With cool room facilities also available at Cape Town, Durban, Harare, Lusaka and Windhoek, EAS has been able to provide a seamless cold chain network to fit in with domestic and regional airline schedules. Its customer base includes the likes of Jas Forwarding, Berry and Donaldson, UTi, Safcor Panalpina, K+N, Freitan, TRT Shipping and Worldnet Logistics. “Our position of neutrality has provided agents with peace of mind in committing their volumes through the EAS facility.”