Efficient Spring Logistics: HANNON Transport’s Horticulture Solutions

As spring approaches, the demand for fresh flowers, plants, and seasonal garden products surges, making efficiency paramount in the logistics sector. In the horticulture industry, timing, temperature control, and reliable service are essential to ensure that products reach garden centres and retailers in prime condition. At HANNON Transport, we have built our reputation on delivering temperature-controlled logistics solutions that are not only dependable but also highly efficient, assisting businesses in navigating the challenges of seasonal peaks with confidence..

Leading the Way in Temperature-Controlled Transport for the Horticulture Industry

In spring, the logistical demands of the horticulture sector are particularly acute. Garden centres across the UK and Ireland experience a substantial increase in stock of flowers, plants, and garden products as customers embark on their seasonal gardening projects. Whether it is delicate flowers, shrubs, or perishable items such as fresh herbs, maintaining optimal conditions during transport is crucial. At HANNON Transport, our fleet of cutting-edge refrigerated trailers is equipped with the latest technology to ensure precise temperature control, which is vital in preserving the quality of products during these busy months.

Meeting the Challenges of Cross-Border Transport

A significant portion of the flowers and plants found in garden centres across the UK and Ireland are imported from the Netherlands, a global leader in flower and plant production. This results in considerable volumes of cross-border transportation during the spring season. At HANNON Transport, we possess substantial experience in managing the complexities of importing from Europe, ensuring that delicate flowers and plants, often sourced from Dutch growers, arrive fresh and vibrant.

Beyond Temperature: The Role of Humidity and Ventilation

While temperature control is a critical factor, it is only part of the equation. Our humidity and ventilation systems play a pivotal role in ensuring that delicate plants and flowers arrive fresh, healthy, and undamaged. Whether it involves preventing dehydration in flowers or regulating moisture levels to avoid mould and rot, we ensure the ideal conditions for every shipment, no matter how far it travels.

Smart Routing and Delivery Efficiency for Spring Demands

Spring is characterised by unpredictable demand for garden products. To ensure that stock levels remain high and deliveries stay on schedule, it is essential to have an efficient and flexible transport system in place. At HANNON Transport, logistics are streamlined through smart routing technology that dynamically adapts to changing traffic, weather conditions, and customer requirements.

We offer high-frequency deliveries throughout the peak spring months, ensuring that garden centres are consistently stocked with the freshest plants, trees, and seasonal products. Our expert logistics team utilises advanced analytics to predict fluctuations in demand, enabling us to adapt swiftly and deliver at the most opportune times.

Just-in-Time Delivery: Ensuring Peak Condition for Garden Centres

As spring unfolds and demand for fresh plants, shrubs, and flowers peaks, HANNON Transport’s last-mile delivery teams are deployed across every corner of Ireland. Our goal is clear: to ensure that garden centres and nurseries receive their stock just-in-time (JIT), with plants in prime condition, ready for planting as the season begins.

A Complex, Coordinated Supply Chain

Successfully meeting the increased demand for horticultural products requires a highly coordinated and efficient supply chain. To ensure that every consignment arrives fresh and on time, the logistics process is initiated well in advance. Our teams, based in both the Netherlands and Ireland, have been planning for weeks to guarantee a seamless flow of products to local garden centres and nurseries.

From growers to wholesalers, logistics partners, and garden centres, every link in the supply chain is tightly integrated to ensure that products arrive in peak condition, just in time for the busy spring season.

Behind the Scenes: Expert Planning and Coordination

The seamless, on-time deliveries that HANNON Transport is known for result from meticulous planning and coordination. Our Horticulture Transport and Planning Teams apply expert knowledge to manage a range of critical tasks, ensuring that each aspect of the logistics process is executed flawlessly. Key areas of focus include:

• Load Planning: Carefully organising consignments to optimise space and minimise waste.
• Route Planning & Optimisation: Selecting the most efficient routes to ensure timely deliveries.
• Ferry Bookings: Securing necessary ferry slots for smooth cross-border transport.
• Driver Management: Preparing drivers for the best routes and ensuring timely arrivals.
• Vehicle Capacity & Utilisation Optimisation: Maximising fleet capacity to increase efficiency.
• Cross-Docking Optimisation: Ensuring seamless transfer to final delivery vehicles.
• Last-Mile Delivery: Ensuring that garden products reach local centres on schedule and in top condition.
• Real-Time Monitoring & Vehicle Tracking: Tracking each shipment for updates and transparency.
• Customer Service Excellence: Maintaining seamless communication and providing superior service.

Sustainability in Logistics: Helping Horticulture Thrive Responsibly

At HANNON Transport, we understand that efficient logistics are about more than speed; they must also be sustainable. As the horticulture industry continues to grow, the environmental impact of transport has become increasingly significant. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint by integrating eco-friendly vehicles and energy-efficient technologies into our fleet. Our sustainable practices, such as optimising load distribution and planning the most fuel-efficient routes, help reduce emissions without compromising on service quality.

As many of our clients in the horticulture sector also strive to reduce their environmental impact, our approach to sustainability ensures that we support their green goals while maintaining a high level of operational efficiency.

Connecting Ireland and Europe with Fast, Reliable Logistics

The Netherlands is renowned for its high-quality horticultural and fresh-cut flower production. Its geographical proximity to Ireland makes it a key hub for UK and Irish wholesalers, garden centres, nurseries, and supermarkets, particularly when meeting the peaks in spring demand and during the off-seasons. This proximity allows for quick and efficient transportation of time-sensitive goods such as plants, flowers, and seasonal products.

For Irish horticultural importers, post-Brexit logistics have been simplified through a responsive mix of direct ferry routes and the UK landbridge. HANNON Transport’s expertise in providing integrated customs clearance solutions ensures that goods move seamlessly across borders, avoiding delays even during the busy spring months.

HANNON Transport: Expertise in Temperature-Controlled Logistics

With operations in Northern Ireland, Rotterdam, Dublin, and Paris, HANNON Transport is strategically positioned to offer efficient, temperature-controlled logistics across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe. We specialise in delivering time-sensitive fresh produce and horticultural products within a fully traceable, company-owned network.

We provide daily full load (FTL) services for the Irish temperature-controlled horticultural sector, ensuring that shipments are delivered on time, even during peak demand periods. Additionally, we offer groupage (LTL) services, allowing businesses to send as little as one pallet of goods, making our solutions both flexible and cost-effective.

Ensuring Seamless Cross-Border Movement

We facilitate cross-border transport smoothly by handling all customs procedures through our in-house Customs Administration Team. This ensures that shipments move efficiently across borders, avoiding unnecessary delays. As a result, our clients can be confident that their products will arrive on time and in optimal condition.