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Dutch Berry Imports Support Irish Summer Demand

The European soft fruit season is now moving into peak volume, with Dutch strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries flowing into Ireland in increasing quantities. For Irish retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice suppliers, the Netherlands remains one of the most important sourcing hubs for high-quality berry imports during the summer season.

As promotional activity and consumer demand increase across fresh produce categories, maintaining reliable cold chain transport becomes critical. Soft berries have limited shelf life, tight delivery windows, and strict temperature requirements, making transport performance a key part of overall product quality.

HANNON Transport supports fresh produce importers with temperature-controlled logistics between the Netherlands and Ireland, helping businesses move soft fruit quickly, efficiently, and with full cold chain visibility.

Dutch Soft Fruit Continues to Play a Key Role in Irish Supply

Ireland’s domestic berry production remains seasonal and limited in scale compared to consumer demand during peak summer months. Dutch growers help bridge this supply gap through consistent, high-volume production supported by advanced greenhouse cultivation and tightly managed harvesting operations.

The Netherlands also acts as a major European consolidation hub for imported soft fruit arriving from Spain, Morocco, Portugal, and other international growing regions before onward distribution into Ireland.

This creates a fast-moving supply chain environment where:

• Shelf life is commercially critical
• Delivery delays reduce product value quickly
• Temperature consistency must be maintained throughout transit
• Retailers require dependable replenishment schedules during peak demand periods

For importers and distributors, transport reliability directly impacts waste levels, availability, and retail performance.

Why Berry Logistics Require Specialist Temperature Control

Soft fruit remains one of the most temperature-sensitive categories within the fresh produce sector. Even minor fluctuations during transport can accelerate ripening, reduce firmness, and shorten retail shelf life.

Different berry varieties also present different handling challenges.

Temperature Stability

Most soft berries require transport conditions between +0°C and +4°C to preserve freshness and reduce deterioration during transit.

Maintaining cold chain integrity across cross-border movements is particularly important during warmer summer periods and high-volume retail promotions.

Humidity Management

Humidity levels between 90–95% RH help prevent dehydration and preserve visual quality, weight, and shelf presentation.

Fragile Product Handling

Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are highly vulnerable to bruising and compression. Careful trailer configuration and secure load planning are essential to minimise movement during transport.

Short Retail Windows

Many berry consignments move from grower to retail shelf within a matter of days. Fast collection schedules, reliable transit times, and responsive delivery planning all play a major role in preserving saleable shelf life.

Flexible Groupage Supports Seasonal Demand

One of the biggest challenges during peak horticultural periods is balancing speed with efficiency. Many growers and distributors do not require dedicated full trailer loads every day, particularly when replenishing multiple retail locations.

HANNON’s groupage [LTL] model allows horticultural businesses to move smaller consignments quickly while maintaining temperature control and delivery reliability.

Our high-frequency transport network provides:

• Daily departures
• Flexible collection scheduling
• Consolidated European imports
• Responsive delivery planning during peak demand periods
• Reliable transit visibility through real-time Track & Trace

This enables growers, importers, and retailers to respond rapidly to changing customer demand without unnecessary stock holding or transport waste.

Temperature-Controlled Transport Remains Critical

Although spring temperatures may appear manageable, many horticultural products remain sensitive to heat exposure and poor airflow conditions during transit.

HANNON operates temperature-controlled and dual-temperature trailers that help maintain suitable transport conditions across mixed horticultural loads. Real-time trailer monitoring also provides greater shipment visibility and operational control during busy seasonal periods.

For businesses importing plants through Netherlands and Belgium, maintaining product condition during cross-border transport is particularly important as lead times tighten during seasonal demand spikes.

Supporting Growers, Importers, and Garden Retailers

HANNON Transport works with horticultural suppliers moving products between Ireland and mainland Europe through flexible, operationally controlled logistics services.

Our customers rely on us for:

• Groupage [LTL] and Full Load [FTL] transport
• Temperature-controlled logistics
• Own fleet and drivers
• Real-time shipment visibility
• Planner-led trailer configuration
• In-house customs clearance
• Responsive scheduling during seasonal demand surges

As the 2026 gardening season continues to accelerate, supply chain responsiveness will remain critical for businesses looking to maximise availability while protecting product quality.

HANNON already supports growers, importers, wholesalers, and retailers across Ireland and Europe with dependable horticultural transport solutions designed around live products and time-sensitive delivery requirements.

Get in touch today to discuss how HANNON can help optimise your horticultural supply chain

What HANNON Transport Delivers

HANNON Transport provides temperature-controlled groupage logistics between Ireland and Europe.

We operate high-frequency groupage [LTL] and full load [FTL] services between Netherlands and Ireland [NL–IE], Belgium and Ireland [BE–IE], and across other key European lanes.

Our services are trusted by food and fresh produce importers, wholesalers, and distributors who require fast, reliable access to and from Europe—with full customs compliance, flexible collection options, and secure temperature control from first pallet to final delivery.

Transport & Handling

Routes: IE Domestic, NL–IE, BE–IE, FR–IE
HS Code: 06029090 – Live plants, potted or bedding
Handling Conditions: Ambient or lightly cooled, airflow managed, humidity protected

Service Capabilities

• Groupage [LTL]
• Full Load [FTL]
• Dual-Temperature Trailers
• Plant Trolley & Rolling Cage Handling
• Real-Time Track & Trace
• Just-in-Time Delivery
• Own Fleet & Drivers
• Planner-Led Load Configuration
• Temperature-Controlled Logistics
• In-House Customs Clearance
• IEA Export Industry Award Winner 2024 – Logistics & Supply Chain Company of the Year