HONG KONG logistics provider U-Freight Group, believes that China's growing thirst for French wine will be a major boost for the company's specialist wine logistics services.

    The company said the recent Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair revealed high volumes of French wine being imported into Hong Kong and mainland China.

    Earlier this year, one of U-Freight Logistics' facilities in Hong Kong was officially approved by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) for the provision of commercial wine storage. The certification means that U-Freight Logistics (HK) Limited is officially able to provide commercial wine storage services within the company's warehouse at Kwai Chung.

    At its logistics centre at Pudong Airport in Shanghai; the company offers a sophisticated wine tasting suite where buyers and sellers can sample wine; as well as comprehensive wine storage facilities with sophisticated temperature and humidity control mechanisms.

    Simon Wong, CEO of the company said: "The accreditation in Hong Kong and the development in Shanghai came at just the right time for us to support China's burgeoning wine market and to help French imports into the Chinese market. We have seen robust growth of wine-related business activities in Hong Kong and mainland China since approval from HKQAA, which partnered with the industry to develop the HKQAA Wine Storage Management Systems Certification Scheme for wine storage companies and wine retailers. The fact that this was the first of its kind in the world is all-important to us.

    "China and Hong Kong are now hosting world-class wine shows to bring the best of New and Old World wines to Chinese restaurants, clubs, retailers, auction houses and consumers who want to taste the best the world has to offer, said Mr Wong.

    "In the past, 95 per cent of wines consumed in mainland China were produced domestically. Now, a quarter of all wine is imported. This facility puts us in pole position when importers are considering the safe importation of wines from around the world."

    The way in which wine is sold in China is also changing. In the 1990s, imported wines were only available in first tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and sold almost exclusively to foreign hotels and retailers. Now, imported wines are entering second-tier cities and are primarily sold through restaurants and large supermarkets and department stores. 
 

source:www.schednet.com