MANILA, Philippines – Royal Cargo, a leading provider of high-quality and cost-efficient specialized logistics services in the country, continues to strengthen its logistics and cold chain capabilities in preparation for the upcoming Christmas season.
The Company’s more than 100 refrigerated vans are equipped to carry chilled and frozen products such as cold cuts, ice cream and concentrated juices that are in greater demand during the holiday season. The reefer vans ensure cool and stable temperatures during transport to extend product shelf life and minimize food spoilage, a risk further exacerbated by the heavier traffic during Christmas.
Besides expanding its transport network, Royal Cargo inaugurated the construction early this year of its new 15,000-pallet position cold storage facility in Bulacan to complement its existing logistics facility in Southern Luzon. The new facility, located in the Plaridel Bypass Road, will have a cold storage, a dry warehouse and a container freight station. It is expected to open mid-2018 and will serve distribution needs in Mega Manila, and Northern and Central Luzon.
The specialized logistics Company continues to invest heavily in its cold chain assets in order to meet the anticipated rise in demand for chilled and frozen food in the Philippines.
President and Chief Executive Elmer Sarmiento noted more sophisticated food choices among Filipinos, which together with the growing population fuel demand in the food industry. “This continuous rise in demand and the corresponding food logistics requirements present opportunities for cold chain facilities. We’ve been strengthening our in-house capability precisely to be able to provide reliable infrastructure and services for both storing and transporting foods,” he said.
To differentiate itself, Royal Cargo offers end-to-end supply chain services as opposed to selling independent services for cold storage only or just refrigerated deliveries. Confident of growth in the cold chain business in the next five years, the Company plans to put up more cold storage facilities and add more reefer vans to ensure delivery of quality, fresh foods to supermarkets and to the tables of Filipino consumers.
“The business outlook is increasingly positive despite challenges such as traffic and port congestion and rising port costs. We will invest in more cold chain assets, particularly in the country’s highly urbanized areas to prepare for more demand,” Mr. Sarmiento added.
