Pd Logistics Wins Contract With Uk’s Largest Independent Drinks Manufacturer

Feb. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- PD Logistics, part of the PD Ports Group, has successfully won the contract with the UK’s largest independent drinks manufacturer and distributor, Halewood International, to handle all imports of Tsingtao Beer from China.

The containers will be received into the port of Felixstowe and unloaded into PD Logistics’ 500,000 sq ft onsite warehouse facility for bonded storage prior to onward despatch.

This new contract with Halewood International significantly increases the volume of bonded products that PD Logistics currently handles at this facility. As a result, PD Logistics has expanded its wet bond area from 80,000 sq ft to 165,000 sq ft to accommodate the imported Tsingtao beer, whilst allowing for further expansion within the market.

Tsingtao is the 5th fastest growing premium packaged lager in the world and the tenth-largest beer brand worldwide. With an already substantial and loyal consumer base within the Chinese restaurant market in the UK, Tsingtao is already appearing on supermarket shelves.

James Wright, Sales Controller at Halewood International, comments: “With the Tsingtao agreement in place we needed to identify a partner, who was able to offer a large, bonded warehouse facility as close to the port as possible, which would enable us to maximise the efficiency of our supply chain.”

“We were aware of the excellent reputation of PD Logistics’ bonded facility and the comprehensive shipping connections enjoyed by the Port of Felixstowe. The decision was easy to make and we look forward to what we hope will be a long and fruitful relationship with PD Logistics.”

Jerry Hopkinson, MD, bulks, ports and logistics for PD Ports, said: “The agreement with Halewood International marks an important milestone for the PD Logistics warehouse operations at Felixstowe, reinforcing its position as an important wet bond facility and major import centre for bonded beers, wines and spirits.

“Using PD Logistics’ warehousing facility within the dock site also highlights the growing recognition that the UK's major distributors, manufacturers and retailers give to the portcentric logistics solution offered by PD Logistics and the wider PD Ports Group.

“In today’s economic climate, many companies are looking to drive down costs and the handling and storage of products at a port-based logistics centre. It is increasingly recognised as a cost effective and viable supply chain solution.”

Halewood International, based in Merseyside, manufactures and distributes some of the UK’s best known alcoholic drinks brands from Lamb’s Navy Rum to Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer and Red Square Vodka.

About PD Ports:

PD Ports Limited is owned by Canadian based Brookfield.  Brookfield is a global asset manager focused on property, renewable power and infrastructure assets, with over $90 billion of assets under management.  PD Ports was bought by Brookfield in November 2009.

PD Ports is a high performing specialist ports business offering a wide variety of supply chain services to improve customers’ international product and material movements into and out of – as well as within – the UK.

PD Ports employs over 1140 members of staff, and generates an annual turnover of over £120 million from many UK locations.

PD Ports operates throughout the UK from bases at many key ports and logistics centres.      

The 3 business interests of PD Ports are:

Port Operations– is split into two business streams – bulks and unitised and includes:
Teesport: one of the top 3 UK ports, with flows of containers, bulk traffics and finished cars, handling over 40 million tonnes of throughput p.a.

Humber & Small Ports: owners and/or operators of ports on the Humber estuary, Rivers Trent and Ouse, and at Medina Wharf, Isle of Wight. Service offerings include ships’ agency, chartering and stevedoring services.

Logistics: PD Logistics offers warehousing and distribution services at UK locations throughout the North East, Humberside & East Anglia, including at Felixstowe.  Please visit
www.pdlogistics.com

Development plans for Port Operations include:

The Northern Gateway Container Terminal: a major new deep sea container terminal planned at Teesport on the South side of the River Tees.  The £300+ million development will have a capacity of 1.5 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) and is anticipated to deliver over 5,500 jobs to the Tees Valley, when fully operational. Please visit www.thenortherngateway.co.uk
 
Portcentric Logistics: a new concept promoted by PD Ports for locating the storage and distribution of imported goods close to the point of arrival at a UK port. This concept avoids the slow handling and return of empty containers as well as eradicating unnecessary UK road mileage, which occurs when delivering to a traditional inland import centre, such as in the Midlands.  

In 2006 ASDA Wal*Mart opened a 360,000 sq ft import centre at Teesport and has saved more than 2 million road miles by adopting the portcentric concept.  Adjacent to the ASDA facility, Tesco operates a purpose built 1.2 million sq ft import centre at Teesport, which opens in 2009

Conservancy – this includes:
Management of river traffic for the ports of Tees and Hartlepool, ensuring safe navigation and maintaining the required channel depth.  

Property– this includes:

Revenue and income from property and facilities owned by PD Ports and used by third party clients on long term leases.

Land that is not utilised for operational purposes and offers potential for development.
Port land at Hartlepool docks, which is highly attractive to the growing renewable energy sector, including offshore, windfarms, and biomass plants.  PD Ports’ long term strategy is to further develop Hartlepool docks as a centre of excellence for the offshore support sector.

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kirsten.potter@pdports.co.uk  

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