Fresh Thinking From British Airways World Cargo (14/03/2005)

British Airways World Cargo today announced the launch of its new global perishables product, 'Constant Fresh' as part of a £1m investment in its perishables handling service. The Constant Fresh product is available right across the BA World Cargo route network.

The new product offers customers a clearly defined proposition to ensure the freshness of perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables, flowers, meat and seafood as they are moved from the supplier to the retailer. Procedures relating to acceptance and handling of perishable goods at all points have been reviewed and strengthened to ensure total integrity of the supply chain.

The launch is an integral part of a £1m investment in BA World Cargo's Perishables Handling Centre (PHC) at Heathrow to install new hoists, which will increase capacity and drive greater efficiencies throughout the handling process. Work is underway and is due for completion by July 2005.

These improvements follow a £130,000 investment in a new production line that was installed at the PHC last summer which is capable of processing up to 8 million punnets of soft fruit a year, an increase of 30%.

Gerry Mundy, Perishables Manager, said, "BA World Cargo offers a world-class perishables handling service to customers. The investment in a new product and the improvements to the Perishables Handling Centre demonstrate our commitment to this sector. We have established a strong customer proposition in recent years, working with all key partners in the supply chain, which includes retailers, growers, shippers, importers and forwarders.

"The new product will enable us to build on these solid foundations. We offer the most comprehensive, specialised service to customers at Heathrow which has been developed through listening to our customers and their needs. By working closely with our partners, we play a crucial role in the management of the supply chain so that we can deliver the product and offer further value added service enhancements. In 2004 BAWC handled over 115,000 tonnes of perishable goods and we wanted to create a product which was tailored to the specific needs of this important sector."

Jenny Hopwood, Senior Food Technologist, Marks & Spencer said: "In recent years, consumer demand has increased substantially for produce that would previously have been considered 'out of season'. Working in partnership with BA World Cargo, we have been able to radically alter our processes and deliver a significantly broader range for our customers. In this fiercely competitive sector, it's vital that we can utilise resources across the world. There are real business benefits for us in maximising shelf life and this product enables us to do this."