Logistics provider J F Hillebrand is launching a dedicated bulk wine division, Hillebrand Bulk, following an increase in customer demand for bulk wine shipping.
In April the company purchased Trans Ocean Distribution, which specialises in the design and construction of the flexibags that are used to transport the wine. "Our knowledge of beverage transport coupled with TOD's expertise in flexibags makes a formidable team," said Hillebrand executive board member Brendan McKenna.
Research has shown that importing wine in bulk and then bottling in the UK results in significant cost and carbon emission savings for importers. Hillebrand says a single container load of wine in bulk is the equivalent of more than two container loads of bottled wine by volume. It has become a popular way of transporting wine over the past two years, with bulk wine imports to the UK up 54% in the year to June 2007, according to the government-funded WRAP project.
"While the transportation of wine in bulk has traditionally represented just a fraction of the total volume of wine movements around the globe, bulk shipping is becoming increasingly popular," said McKenna.
Constellation Europe is to build a dedicated bottling plant in Avonmouth as it looks to increase the amount of wine imports in bulk. Australian wine supplier Foster's EMEA has also indicated it aims to ship more wine in bulk to the UK.
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