The facilities, which remain the only ones with dedicated loading bays for skidded or palletised cargo and with separate cold rooms to accommodate specific temperatures, have been expanded by 1,500 square metres.
Panalpina first started operations in Nairobi in 2015 with a team of five people, which soon grew to 200 with the acquisition of Airflo, and later to 350 with that of Air Connection. Today, Panalpina flies most of Kenya’s premium perishables out of the country.
The expansion further strengthens the company’s position in Kenya, enabling more and improved services for its perishables customers both in and out of the country.
At the inauguration of the new facilities on November 29, the Kenyan government said that it “remains committed to ensure that [Kenya has an] integrated and interconnected world-class transport infrastructure that facilitates sector growth and accelerates national economic development.”
Stefan Karlen, President and CEO of Panalpina, commented: “This facility will provide many business opportunities for our customers to pursue in [Kenya], the region and the world, and that is what we are looking to achieve – solutions that foster growth for our customers, Panalpina and the communities where we operate.”
Panalpina aims to grow its business in Kenya from the current 65,000 tons of flowers, fruits and vegetables, to more than 80,000 by 2020, which will bring benefits for the local community in employment opportunities and improved infrastructure.
Panalpina’s growth in perishables has continued elsewhere in Africa, too. This year, Skyservices in South Africa joined the Panalpina family, and FX Logistics, a new agent in Zimbabwe, also became a member of the Panalpina Perishables Network.
