Portsmouth Port has completed the purchase of Mainland Market Deliveries (MMD) Shipping Services Ltd, based at Flathouse Quay, Portsmouth Port, from Sandpiper CI Limited.
The transaction was approved by Portsmouth City Council, owner of the Port, and completed on Friday, following the Port being awarded preferred bidder status in December last year. The Port’s purchase of MMD, which claims to import 70 per cent of all bananas eaten in Britain, is expected to secure the current income for the City of Portsmouth.
MMD occupies a site of 22 acres, 19.22 acres of which is rented from the Port, it employs just over 200 people. “The purchase of MMD by the Port will help safeguard the business’s position as a significant importer of goods into the UK and therefore help maintain the status of Portsmouth as an important commercial Port in the UK,” said a statement.
“In addition, ownership of MMD will bring strategic benefits as The Port will have control over the facilities and working practices at the company. This will allow the Port to develop the business in line with expected changes to the fruit importing business over the next 15-20 years, and explore new options for short sea shipping and cruise traffic,”
Martin Putman, Port manager, said, “The purchase of MMD is important for the Port and the local community. It will enable economic growth, especially for freight coming into Portsmouth; it will grow quay operations and will aid further business expansion for the port as well.”
