DIARIO DEL PUERTO COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS - FRUIT LOGISTICA 2022 22 As Badenes acknowledges, these closures are not so much due to the current context but have more to do with the life cycle of these companies, which have become obsolete or were family businesses and have not been able to survive beyond the third generation. MAKING FORECASTS, A RISKY BUSINESS And now what? Making year-end forecasts in the first quarter, coming out of a pandemic, with energy prices soaring and a war in Eastern Europe, makes forecasting a risky business right now. Badenes is expecting good operating figures (turnover, occupancy, employment and handling) but very complicated business figures due to increased supply costs and, especially, energy prices which he describes as ”A dramatic price increase that has a very negative impact on the bottom line”. This can have repercussions not only on the balance sheets of companies, but ”can spread to factors such as employment and the situation of the operators themselves, which in a more stable situation would not be a problem”. Is this the ideal context for undertaking new projects? It depends, says Badenes. Firstly, ”there is an interest and a need for them in the light of the growing demand for frozen and refrigerated products”, a situation which is not lost on companies and could encourage them to start up new ventures. However, narrowing profit margins due to the increase in energy costs will put a damper on this ”enthusiasm”. ”It is up to each company to see their glass as being half full or half empty”, concludes the Association’s General Secretary. ON THE ROAD TO STABILITY AFTER TWO YEARS OF PANDEMIC It has been two years since the onset of the pandemic. Despite the huge impact of the crisis, the sector’s status as an essential industry meant that it did not collapse and has made huge efforts to adapt in many ways. ”It is fair to say that the public cold storage sector has become more competitive and has been modernised as a result of the impact of COVID-19,” says Marcos Badenes, General Secretary of ALDEFE. Coldstorage facilitiesarenowmoreversatile, agileandbetterable tocontrol the costs linked to their business and the services they provide to their customers. However, companies are reluctant to draw conclusions. ”Workers are still being infected in cold storage facilities. COVID sick leave still needs to be covered, and services and work shifts are suffering”, the General Secretary of ALDEFE points out, although the trend is towards greater stability, but not growth. ”Customers are gradually increasing stocks according to market demand and, above all, keeping a close eye on the HORECA channel. Depending on how this goes, the cold storage facility situation will improve. In short, ”the situation is under control, with market stability and growth forecasts in the short and medium term”. Of all the changes introduced in the wake of the pandemic, some are likely to remain in place indefinitely. The measures relating to shift control, occupational hygiene and improvements in employees’ sick leave and returns to work imposed by the outbreak of the pandemic ”are here to stay”. In addition to these aspects, which are closely related to health management, it is clear that cold storage companies have substantially enhanced their management, optimising resources, increasing productivity and reducing the kilowatts per cubic metre used in their facilities. ”Many improvements have been made, but the price paid has been very high”, says Marcos Badenes. Logistics operators and cold storage facilities
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