INTERNATIONAL NEWS

12

FAO and WFP warn of looming widespread food crisis

13

Formula to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in the

cold chain

14

The transition to alternative proteins continues

16

Global actions on World Environment Day underscore urgent

need to project the planet

17

Refrigeration 2022 conference result to tackle climate change

ASSOCIATIONS

18

A safer year in SA ’ s gas industry , figures show

19

GCCA South African Cold Chain Conference : review

22

Citrus Growers Association – latest updates

23

CHIETA tackles mismatch in chemicals sectors

CONTRIBUTORS

30

Let your fruit quality do the talking …

31

How do you access your refrigeration system and quantify

necessary compliance / safety issues with it ?

31

New development at A Perks Enterprises

32

Fatal incidents and tackling the challenges to educate the sector

34

Cold storage infra and refrigeration tech are key for growth in

SA food production

35

Facility management – are you as efficient as you think you are ?

Succession planning is a directed approach and involves the process of identifying and developing potential candidates over time , often years , to fill certain positions when vacancies open up or key positions when seniors step down .

Although there are a number of businesses that do get this right , far more don ’ t and owners often land up retiring and “ closing shop ”. This in return ends in the transfer of skills and organisational knowledge to next generations stopping there , and that has been said to be a contributor to the lack of experience and expertise in several industry sectors .

If any of our readers have been involved in any acquisitions , business takeovers , or mergers you would know first hand the importance of certain people in the process and the knowledge they possess . It is regularly the case though that the seniors who want to step down have all the nuanceknowledge , and no one else .

Succession implementation also has other serious benefits in that it keeps business fresh and vibrant , up to date with technology and the ways of the world , what employees see as valuable , and the adoption of alternate philosophy and ways of thinking .

Someone from the industry recently said something very apt that can be linked directly to this topic . They were talking about doing things differently and noted that when businesses have been applying the same design and strategy for thirty or forty years , there is no innovation , there is no inclusion of new technology and no way to create sustainable solutions for the future .

In Europe and the US , succession is executed seamlessly and that is why businesses stay open and relevant so easily for many , many decades ( or longer ). Perhaps something the local sectors can take a page out of the playbook on . We of course need continuity , sustainability and new thinking to keep up with this fast changing world .

In this issue we carry several local and international news articles as well as some association updates . Our regular contributors share of their experiences in safety and providing markets with excellent quality produce . We also have a number of other contributor opinion articles that we hope will provide our readers with some insight into other sector-related topics as well as business management practices that are continually evolving .

Our feature is on packaging in the cold chain , that has way more depth that even I could imagine and has so many products it baffles the mind – all with a particular

function based on the particular product – who would have thought that technology has advanced so far in fact that packaging can now control the rate at which fresh produce matures ! Or the fact that consumers place A LOT of importance on aesthetics to decide their purchase . One thing is for sure though , opening a quality product is by far of greatest importance and when a consumer has a bad experience with a brand these days – there are so many suppliers that to change their support is as simple as picking up the next product on the shelf . Producers and processors need to ensure they are on top of their game at all times nowdays . Do you have any views on packaging in the cold chain that we can share with readers in an upcoming issue ? Such a big topic with so many considerations …

This month ’ s quote is one appropriate for keeping businesses and philosophy current which then leads to a greater window of success – doing the “ same old ” year after year , has a limit and will never produce the results you are looking for when the world and environments continually change .

“ It ' s important to have people who are absolutely willing to say you ' re wrong or who have a totally different perspective than you do on everything . Fresh ideas are hard to come by , and good ones are even harder .” - Shonda Rhimes

I welcome you to get in contact with me to share your views on the various elements that keep the sector together so that we can keep Cold Link Africa a world-class product . Every little bit of participation ultimately adds value to the industry !

I trust a wonderful month ahead as we enter quarter four of 2022 and edge yet closer to adding another year under the belt . CLA

Ben

Please contact me via any of the following channels : Email : benjamin @ interactmedia . co . za Office : + 27 11 579 4940 Cell : + 27 82 940 0701 ( Call / Text / WhatsApp )