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are palletised and containerised in20ft containers” says Barry Cole. “Ourbiggest challenge is weight. To maximisethe use of the container we’ve designedspecial export pallets which allow us topack 10 pallets per container to achievemaximum utilisation of space and height”he explains.With it’s 2007 exports up by 14%, LionNathan NZ exports beer and Maltexoproduct to the US, Hawaii, Australia,UK, Japan and parts of Asia. Steinlagerbeer accounts for over 90% of LionNathan NZ exports. Maltexo is thecompany’s malt extract business whichproduces and exports several brandsto the international brewing and foodmanufacturing industries. Lion NathanNZ’s wine export shipping is controlledby the individual wineries.Shipping contracts for both Lion NathanNZ’s export and import tonnage arenegotiated annually by the NZ LogisticsDepartment. Barry Cole explains,“International Shipping Department (ISD)which is part of the team, reviews thecontracts every year. We’re looking forgood service, good pricing and fastturnaround. At present our import andexport shipping partners includeHapag-Lloyd, Maersk and NYK.”The nature of the Lion Nathan NZbusiness means the Companyimports as much or more thanit exports. Barry Cole reportsimports last year of severalhundred TEUs from UK,Europe, Asia and Australia.Imports include beer productssuch as Becks, Corona andStella, RTDs and Spirits.The Company also importssome brewing and packagingmaterials that are either notavailable of cost prohibitive in NZ. Mostof these materials are imported in both20ft and 40ft containers.Barry Cole highlights fast turnaroundfrom the port as key to his logisticsrequirements. “We might get 30containers coming in over a three dayperiod. I need access to them asap.We’re giving full support to this newPOAL initiative, the VBS (Vehicle BookingSystem) that is being trialled at present.If it is developed as planned it willminimise truck turnaround time whichshould therefore ensure that we get fastaccess to our containers which is exactlyour priority”.PACIFICACoastal shipping operatorPacifica Transport is LionNathan NZ’s primary carrierbetween its four NZ warehousesin the North and South Islands.Pacifica’s domestic land andcoastal shipping networkhandles high volumes of fullpallet loads and containerisedbeer, wine, spirits and rawmaterials for Lion Nathanaround NZ. Barry Cole gives thePacifica service top rating forits ‘can do service attitude’ andoperating flexibility.Kim-Shing Chong, International ShippingDepartment Manager.At the NZ HQ in Auckland, Lion Nathan has aninhouse packing, palletising and containerisingoperation.11