DHL gain Hong Kong quality certificate for wine storage

DHL has gained its first Commercial Wine Storage Management Systems Certification from Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) for the DHL Global Forwarding wine hub, the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region.

Developed in partnership with the wine industry, the certification from HKQAA launched back in December 2009, recognises the company's excellent management system in wine storage which is on par with international best practices for the proper cellaring, storage and warehousing of wines.

Targeted for long-term storage as well as consumption in the near future, the requirements consist of two parts, system requirements, encompassing the planning, execution, monitoring and improvement of wine storage services, and the Code of Practice that defines nine requirements covering temperature, humidity, lights, vibration, maintenance, security, inventory management, hygiene and insurance.

Edward Hui, managing director for Hong Kong, Macau and South China said the certification reaffirms its market leadership in this growing sector, "We have consistently provided flexible storage management while offering sound planning, execution, monitoring and continuous optimisation of wine storage services that are evaluated against high performance indicators."

Since the abolishment of the 40 per cent import duty on wine in Hong Kong in 2008, wine demand has picked up momentum and wine-related business activities have seen more robust growth. According to Vinexpo, the international wine and spirits exhibition, wine-related business activities have seen a robust growth and Hong Kong's lucrative wine import market is expected to triple in value, from HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) in 2004 to HK$4.64 billion by 2013.

With its infrastructure and capabilities in the wine industry, DHL Global Forwarding is well positioned to cater to the continued growth of this industry in Hong Kong. Located at the heart of Hong Kong Island, DHL's 1,858 square metre wine hub is only 45 minutes to the Hong Kong International Airport and 20 minutes to Kwai Chung Container Terminal.

DHL's wine hub has a dedicated team who handles the inbound and outbound shipments to and from Hong Kong, between Hong Kong and China or intra-China. The facility offers warehouse management, inventory management and value-added services such as scanning and labelling, packing and customs brokerage. 24-hour security guard, CCTV monitoring, sophisticated alarm and access control system help ensure high level of security in the facility.
(Source:www.schednet.com)