The growing global
consumption of frozen
and chilled foods has seen
a “significant amount” of
innovation being deployed
to support
the quality
of cold chain
management.
However,
overcoming
challenges
such as
delays, power
outages
and quality
control for
refrigerated
goods
exporters
into Africa
still remains
a major
headache, FTW has learned.
“As a company that
exports ice cream – with
growth seen recently
in Angola, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Lesotho and
the Democratic Republic of
Congo – one of the biggest
challenges we have had to
overcome is the quality of
the cold chain. Some African
countries’ infrastructure has
deteriorated for a number
of reasons, amongst others
budgetary
constraints,”
said
Bernadine
De Boni,
Nestlé Ice
Cream
export
controller.
She told
FTW that
partnering
with strong
distribution
partners had
helped the
company
re-establish
its supply chain network
into Zimbabwe and
Lesotho, despite difficulties
encountered in current crossborder
movements.
Greg Woodbridge,
managing director of
Imperial Distribution
Services, said the challenges
experienced in cold chain
logistics in South Africa
were no different from those
of any first world country.
“As you move in the broader
African continent you
experience challenges with
infrastructure and support
services to manage potential
breakdowns. Due to the
distances being covered,
response times to breakdowns
are fairly long, and naturally
the quality of product is
compromised,” he noted.
A specialist reefer
transporter said the biggest
threat to cold chain logistics
is time – and while it can
generally be efficiently
managed, the unknown
factor is border delays and
delays at loading and offloading
locations. “At least
10-15% of all trips need kid
glove treatment to speed up
efficient logistics,” he said.
The company believes these
challenges can be addressed
by improved training and a
higher-volume capacity of
refrigerated facilities.
Imperial Distribution
Services has overcome the
challenges by identifying
key partners in selected
geographies and helping
them develop infrastructure
capable of supporting the
company’s fleet in remote
areas. “We have also deployed
mobile technology into
our fleet which allows for
the remote monitoring of
temperature, to adjust it
remotely if necessary and to
warn the driver in the event
of a temperature deviation.
In this way we can save the
loads,” said Woodbridge.
Quality at point of
loading, quality of fridges
and vehicles and quality
of remote monitoring are
key to ensuring a product
is delivered in suitable
condition, he commented.
“A collaborative approach
across all partners in this
value chain will address the
challenges going forward,”
he said.
INSERT & CAPTION
As you move into
Africa you experience
challenges with
infrastructure and
support services to
manage potential
breakdowns.
– Greg Woodbridge
