Capespan crowned Exporter of the Year

Fruit exporter Capespan was recently announced as the Absa/Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exporter of the Year. This year saw a record number of entries and Dr Gerald Wolman, the chamber president, said standards were so high the judges had to increase the number of finalists from the traditional six to eight. In the initial judging round, the focus was on export volumes, financial growth and job creation. In the second round the judges visited all the semi-finalists’ businesses to verify submission details and explore innovation, new services and products and social involvement. Half the entries were from the food and agricultural sectors. In his acceptance speech at the gala function on 7 October, Neil Oosthuizen, Capespan managing director touched on the challenges facing the fruit industry. “As with all global organisations, the Capespan group has to grapple with external negative factors impeding industry development,” he explained. “The most pertinent of these being the international monetary crisis, food inflation and global warming.” As an exporter, importer and logistics service provider, Capespan is a global leader marketing fresh produce and value-added products such as fruit juice and processed fresh fruit to retailers worldwide. – Staff reporter