Heathrow Boost For Fresh Produce As Swissport Launches New Perishables Centre

Swissport has opened a new dedicated perishables centre at London Heathrow, a move set to strengthen the UK’s cool-chain capability for high-value fresh produce imports and exports – as well as seafood and other time-critical goods.

The temperature-controlled facility, located at Heathrow and operated around the clock, is designed to improve the speed and quality of handling for sensitive perishable cargo. Swissport says the centre has the capacity to process up to 30,000 tonnes of goods each year, supporting customers moving products where shelf-life, consistency and tight temperature control are non-negotiable.

For the fresh produce supply chain, the significance is clear: Heathrow remains one of the UK’s most important gateways for premium perishables, particularly higher value fruit and vegetables flown in to meet retail, wholesale and foodservice demand. Faster processing and reduced dwell times at the airport can directly protect quality, reduce waste and help maintain product integrity from uplift to delivery.

A key feature of the site is a dedicated Border Inspection Post (BIP), enabling airside inspection and clearance of imports. This is expected to support quicker release of loads, less time sitting on the ground, and fewer handling delays – all of which can make the difference between “perfect on arrival” and “soft around the edges” when it comes to delicate produce.

Swissport has also confirmed plans to install an automated screening solution in the first quarter of 2026. This technology is designed to allow dense, palletised shipments to be screened without breaking down loads, cutting out extra handling steps and reducing waiting times. While the centre is positioned to serve a range of perishables, the ability to screen palletised shipments more efficiently is also highly relevant for consolidated fresh produce consignments moving at scale.

The operation forms part of Swissport’s wider global network for temperature-sensitive logistics, and the company has positioned the Heathrow investment as a boost for reliability and predictability in perishable freight movements – two words that fresh produce businesses rather like hearing in the same sentence as “air cargo”.

In practical terms, the new facility is expected to support importers, exporters and logistics partners looking for more controlled, better streamlined perishables handling at Heathrow, at a time when supply chains are under continuing pressure to deliver greater efficiency, stronger quality assurance and reduced product loss.

Source: Air Cargo News