Cool Logistics Africa, the new conference organised by Cool Logistics Resources in Cape Town at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa on 24-26 April 2012, will cover all aspects of perishable logistics set in a pan-African context.
The two-day conference followed by a one-day workshop will focus on developing cold chain skills and infrastructure and identify new opportunities that will allow African countries to compete in global markets.
The conference will look at how not only fruit, but also other perishable commodities such as meat, flowers and fish, are produced, stored and transported from Southern Africa to markets worldwide.
Particular attention will be drawn to limited transport and cold storage capacity and seek to redefine concepts of ownership and responsibility in the cold chain.
“The intention of the 1st Cool Logistics Africa conference is to lay the foundations for a series of regional events on the African continent that will seek to define the characteristics of the local perishable logistics sector and benchmark these against service levels established in Europe, the Far East and The Americas,” says Alex von Stempel, Director of Cool Logistics Resources Ltd.
Cool Logistics Africa has already attracted the endorsement of Fruit South Africa (FSA), an umbrella association of fruit growers and exporters whose reach spans the entire region of Southern Africa, covering all major fruit categories including citrus and deciduous fruit. FSA is comprised of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF), the South African Table Grapes Industry (SATGI), the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and Hortgro Services.
Official conference advisors include Mitchell Brooke, Logistics Development Manager at the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa; Andy Connell, Business Unit Manager Shipping & Logistics at Dole Foods South Africa; Malcolm Dodd of Cold Chain Solutions; Delena Engelbrecht, Chief Executive Officer, GoReefers; Ralf Heske, Director Refrigerated Container Logistics, Europe and South Africa; Deon Joubert, General Manager Operations at Capespan; Marc Rooms, Global Refrigerated Container Sales Manager, Safmarine and Mariaan Rademan, Managing Director, Aspen International.
Bringing international and regional providers of cold chain logistics, transport services and infrastructure to meet with Africa’s perishable cargo producers and shippers, Cool Logistics Africa provides a
potent learning and networking forum, combining timely market intelligence, practical education, lively debate and the chance to build and strengthen business relations across the continent and beyond.
For more details please go to: www.coollogisticsafrica.com