Leading supplier of fresh produce Capespan scooped the Importer of the Year award at the Re:fresh awards at the London Marriott, on Thursday.
Capespan’s transformation from a South African seasonal supplier to a year-round global player caught the attention of the Re:fresh judges, as the business has undergone significant change within the last 12 months, driven by the firm’s passion for technical innovation and its commitment to meet the present and future needs of producers, customers and consumers.
A supporter of the government’s 5 A DAY scheme, the Schools Fruit and Vegetable scheme, and the British Schools Orienteering Championships, Capespan has pioneered new supply sources and deployed innovative technologies, developed new opportunities for UK customers and provided market access for new suppliers. The company has been instrumental in developing supplies of table grapes from India, Egypt, Peru, and apples and pears from China.
Throughout 2007, Capespan has been actively involved in trialling new technologies to reduce overall packaging, improve product quality and identify sustainable and renewable alternatives to conventional plastics. These have included trials of a cartonless transport system for apples, the introduction of modified atmosphere grape packs, energy-saving V Channel grape cartons and trial work with Bio plastic packaging material applications for grapes and top fruit. The firm works actively to reduce its environmental impact, working with growers who invest in and protect nature.
The judges’ said that the contest was “a closely fought discussion, swung eventually by the quality of Capespan’s entry”. Finalists for the award included fruit and vegetable import and ripening business, Katope Malet Azoulay and last year’s winner Spania Fresh Produce Ltd.
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