Commercial Cold Holdings (CCH) Cold Storage has inaugurated its Greenbushes facility in Gqeberha on 5 December, aiming to enhance the Eastern Cape's agricultural and logistics sectors. The facility is designed to support export capabilities and cater to the increasing demand for cold storage, thereby transforming the region's standing in global agricultural markets and bridging local infrastructure gaps.
According to Paul Gibbons, CEO of CCH, "This tactical addition to our portfolio will bolster the export market of local citrus and other fruit, enhancing the country's export capabilities while reinforcing South Africa's position in global markets." The facility, with an 8,000-pallet capacity, supports mixed-use applications, including fruit exports, frozen imports, and bulk storage, aiming to make Eastern Cape producers more efficient in storing and exporting goods by reducing reliance on facilities in other regions.
Gibbons highlighted the logistical challenges faced by local farmers and the potential for export growth in the Eastern Cape's fruit sector, underserved by cold storage facilities until now. The facility's proximity to the port city utilizes existing shipping infrastructure to reduce exporter costs. Gibbons also noted the facility's alignment with sustainability goals through renewable energy alternatives.
The Greenbushes project has bolstered the local economy by creating jobs during construction and generating 40 permanent positions, with an expected increase as operations expand. Francois Roux, chief customer officer at CCH, told Farmer's Weekly, "This facility is our 11th in the group and expands our temperature-controlled capacity to 160,000 pallets across South Africa, Namibia, and soon Mozambique." Roux emphasized CCH's commitment to investing in Africa's infrastructure to enhance food security and market access.
Councillor Bassie Kamana highlighted the facility's role in addressing logistical challenges and generating employment, underscoring the importance of business-government partnerships in realizing the region's potential. The facility, by focusing on citrus and other fruit exports as well as frozen meat imports, positions itself as a key player in South Africa's cold storage sector, aiming to strengthen the Eastern Cape's competitiveness in global agricultural markets.
Source: farmer's weekly