Damco, the combined brand of the A.P. Møller-Maersk Group's logistics activities, has announced that it has designed an end-to-end logistics solution to help fresh produce growers and exporters deliver directly to both wholesalers and retailers around the world.
The 'Damco Fresh Produce Direct' service will serve to ensure product availability, improve quality and gain longer shelf-life while also reducing supply chain costs, the group revealed.
Starting the cold chain at the farm, Damco's service improves insurance – both risk and coverage – securing ocean and airfreight space allocation and ensuring service and cost transparency at the destination.
'Delivering directly can typically lower costs by up to 20 per cent, enabling growers, grower-exporters and retailers to invest those savings in growing their business,' said Ole Schack Petersen, Global Head of Reefer at Damco.
In addition to a reduction in costs, optimising the movement of products across the supply chain also helps to reduce carbon emissions, he explained.
'Our independence from specific transportation providers ensures the customer that we can deliver according to his requirements rather than a fixed timetable,' Mr Schack Petersen noted. 'We can help manage logistics costs during peak seasons by securing required air and ocean carrier allocations at fixed freight rates.
'By ensuring full control within each step in the supply chain, we can also reduce waste thus ensuring that far more of the produce gets to market in optimal conditions.'
