Members of the frozen food industry in the United Kingdom and further afield are rallying in support of Ukraine in its dark hour of need as invading Russian military forces continue to attack the sovereign country on multiple fronts. From logistics specialists and supermarket operators to seafood buyers and food manufacturers, the sector is coming to the aid of the besieged nation and refugees as best it can.
In Redditch, England, Oakland International is working with partners to fill trucks with supplies of essential food and drink as it prepares to consolidate donations and make deliveries of frozen, chilled and ambient consignments collected from manufacturing sites and warehouses across the UK and Ireland. Along with Capital Transport, it is orchestrating a logistical operation and is liaising with the Polish and Ukrainian embassies and the Red Cross to identify the best locations for the dispersal of foodstuffs. There are a large number of Polish and Ukrainian drivers in its transport network who are well placed to assist in getting the job done.
“The world has united to condemn the actions of Russia. We have all seen and read about substantial migration of the population within Ukraine and into the neighboring countries, especially Poland, which is putting pressure on food supply chain infrastructure, accommodation, transport etc,” stated Oakland International at its website. “We share a desire to support our European partners and are therefore assembling teams from the UK and Ireland to mobilize a fleet of initially 50 trucks to deliver much needed basic supplies of food and drink to the main border crossing points to Poland, in particular Dorohusk and Medyka.
The company is asking food suppliers who want to support the cause to urgently let it know what stock items and quantities (total pallets and approximate weight) they are able to donate. It is prepared to collect and ship full loads of 26 standard pallets or 33 euro pallets.
“Short shelf life stock of under seven days should be avoided,” advised Oakland International. “But let’s remember that we can be creative; bread and pastries and many other types of short shelf life products can be frozen for transport to extend their shelf life. If you have less than full loads, please consider talking to partners in your network to see if you can pull a load together. We are happy to send a driver to collect from up to three locations to fill a trailer.”
Alternatively, food producers and distributors can deliver pallet quantities to the company’s consolidation sites in Redditch, Bardon, Corby or Dublin.
Oakland International has agreed to pay for the first 50 loads of stock to get to the borders and/or into Ukraine, if drivers can gain access. Knowing that this situation could be long-lasting, the company aims to continue assisting with humanitarian support while the initial shock displacement is taking place.
Iceland Foods Donates £150,000 to Red Cross
Meanwhile, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation (IFCF) has donated £150,000 to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal to help with relief efforts.
Ukraine has already endured almost eight years of conflict. The current escalation in fighting places millions of people in immediate danger. Efforts are urgently being put in place around the world to help the nation’s suffering population and the neighboring countries that people are fleeing to.
The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are continuing to respond to existing and emerging humanitarian needs. Donations provided to the Red Cross can help those affected get food, water, first aid, medicines, warm clothes and shelter.
Richard Walker, managing director of the Iceland frozen food retail chain stated: “We stand with Ukraine. People are losing their homes and their lives. It is important to me, to the business and to our customers that we help those in Ukraine. Central and Eastern European countries such as Poland, where I lived and worked for many years, will face the full consequences of up to four million refugees, according to the United Nations.”
Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, added: “We are responding to the unfolding crisis in Ukraine. People are losing their homes and lives; families are being separated, people are fleeing the country.
Donations will help us reach displaced people in Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries with food, water, medicine, medical equipment and other essentials. We are hugely grateful for this donation from Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation.”
Goya Joins Food Distribution Drive
Goya Europa, the European arm of Jersey City, New Jersey, USA-headquartered Goya Foods Inc. is distributing hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to the people of Ukraine in response to the international call for critical aid of food, fuel, and medicine. Through Goya’s facilities and distributors throughout Europe, the company is positioned to provide humanitarian aid and quickly mobilize products to Ukraine and Poland, where many refugees are fleeing.
“Through our Goya Gives global initiative, we have always been at the forefront of disaster and humanitarian relief efforts, however, this is a historic attack and genocide on innocent civilians and we cannot sit back and do nothing,” said Bob Unanue, president and ceo of Goya Foods | Goya Europa. “We are blessed to have a presence nearby and we are fortunate to be able to answer the call for help. We send our prayers and love to the people of Ukraine and all those who are on the ground putting their own lives at risk to help those in need.”
“Goya Europa’s strategic location allows us to react with immediate assistance. We have already begun handling the logistics of sending the food through our distribution partners in Poland and Ukraine,” said William Unanue, general manager of Goya Europa.
Icewater Seafoods Says ‘Nyet’ to Russian Cod
In Canada, Icewater Seafoods of Newfoundland on March 1 announced cancellation of frozen cod imports from Russia.
“Like others around the world, we are following the invasion of Ukraine with deep concern and sadness,” said President and CEO Alberto Wareham. “We are simultaneously heartbroken for Ukrainians and inspired by their courage. We are committed to doing our part to offer them unwavering support.”
He added: “This decision creates daunting operational challenges. More importantly, the decision aligns with our values as a company, as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and as Canadians. We have long said we will always do the right thing when it comes to the sustainability of our fisheries. We will also do the right thing as global citizens.”
