London, 18 March 2010 - Dr Horst Lang, head of quality assurance at German independent retailer Globus SB-Warenhaeuser, will give a perspective on fresh food provenance and quality at the 3rd Cool Logistics Conference, taking place in Hamburg on 20-22 September.

The retail group, which controls 59 outlets, including hypermarkets stores in the Czech Republic and Russia, is very conscious of its image as a standard bearer of high quality produce. The company recently received top honours in the annual Fruchthandel Magazine Retail Award, when a panel of 7,500 households voted it in as the retailer with the best fresh fruit and vegetable departments in Germany. The €5.7bn company has 30,000 employees. 

“We are delighted to have secured the participation of one of the top quality German retailers to spearhead this year’s discussion on ethics, environment and efficiencies along the cold supply chain,” says Alex von Stempel, Event Director for Cool Logistics. “Global sourcing of fresh produce will be high on the agenda for 2010, both in terms of how public sensibilities regarding sustainability and responsible trading are influencing retail strategy and how ‘provenance’ is likely to impact investments, quality and ultimately the profitability of the cold chain as a whole.”  

For the first time this year, Cool Logistics will also feature a shippers forum, where exporters and importers of fresh produce, meat, fish and health products will be able to exchange experiences and also voice some of their concerns vis-a-vis the transport and logistics community. On the second day of the conference, shipping companies and airlines will discuss their strategies and have a chance to respond to the issues raised by shippers and freight forwarders. 

“Carriers and beneficial cargo owners may have to resolve increasing differences of opinions by the 3rd quarter of 2010 in order to prevent some of the surprises first aired at last year’s Cool Logistics conference,” says von Stempel. “Capacity constraints, which threatened to choke off the first signs of recovery in the perishable logistics sector, will have to be avoided or at least better managed this year in order to ensure that 2011 will yield better results for all.”   

The agenda for the 3rd Cool Logistics conference is now live online at www.coollogisticsconference.com. As the annual forum for the global perishable transport and logistics industry, the event brings together stakeholders from production to retail to provide a unique 360o perspective on business challenges and opportunities along the cold supply chain.  

Continuing the successful format of 2009, Cool Logistics 2010 includes a main 2-day conference on 21-22 September, plus pre-conference technical workshop on 20 September, exploring how technology innovations can generate operational efficiencies and cost savings.  

Cool Logistics 2010 is officially supported by Port of Hamburg Marketing and has also gained the support of a number of prominent industry groups, including German Cold Storage and Logistics Association VDKL. Current sponsors include Thermo King, Mark-IT, Johnson Controls and Carrier Transicold. 

The conference programme is being developed in close co-operation with an international advisory group of perishable logistics suppliers and buyers from South Africa, New Zealand, China and Germany.  Advisors for 2010 include Alfred Cheung, Managing Director, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (Japan) Ltd; Malcolm Dodd, Innovation Programme Manager at South Africa’s Fresh Produce Exporters Forum; Axel Guenther, Consultant for Lufthansa Cargo AG; Alex Schenz, Division Manager for New Zealand fruit producer Applemax; and Michaela Steineker, Global Reefer Co-ordinator for Hamburg Süd. 

For full details of the Cool Logistics conference, including online registration, visit   http://www.coollogisticsconference.com.  

Alternatively, please contact Helen Coffey on Tel +44 20 8977 0530 Email helen@nextlevelinfo.com Ends For more information: Alex von StempelEvent DirectorTel +44 20 8744 0244alex@freshwaterlogistics.com Rachael WhiteEvent DirectorTel +44 20 8279 9403rachael@nextlevelinfo.com 

NOTES TO EDITORSS  

Cool Logistics is a joint venture between Freshwater Logistics Ltd and Next Level Information Ltd. The current event is the 3rd Annual Conference produced under the Cool Logistics banner. Cool Logistics 2010 is officially supported by Port of Hamburg Marketing. 

Freshwater Logistics was founded in 2007 by Alex von Stempel to provide market intelligence to the global logistics and transport industries. Alex has over 23 years’ experience as an industry commentator, journalist, editor and producer of leading industry conferences, including a number of specialist events in the refrigerated logistics and transport sector. 

Established in 1999, Next Level Information provides event management, conference production, marketing and public relations services for two core sectors - global maritime logistics and transport and the UK healthcare services market. Company founder and managing director Rachael White has been involved in the logistics and transport field for over 20 years as journalist, editor, industry association secretary and producer of major industry conferences.  

Cool Logistics 2010 takes place 20-22 September at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Hamburg. Members of the press wishing to attend the conference please contact Helen Coffey, Event Co-ordinator. Tel +44 20 8977 0530 Email helen@nextlevelinfo.com