The new South Africa/North Europe reefer service launched in December by MBG Shipping, is, in the face of evidence to the contrary, no more and so it seems is the line. It has become clear the MBG reefer service, the brainchild of Ian Wicks, ceased after its maiden voyage because the line was unable to win customer support or source the equipment required for a regular weekly schedule. Stuart Symington, CEO of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum, says there must be many reasons for its demise, uppermost that MBG simply did not receive the support. “Competition is healthy but to provide another competitor in the size of that business (South Africa/ North Europe trade) is very tough because the existing players have a lot of muscle and their perspective would be ‘we don’t need another competitor.’”
