The issue was raised at a panel discussion at a Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday, focusing on how better connectivity via St Malo with Brittany Ferries has presented an opportunity, and how best to realise it.
Natalia Silvester, CEO and founder of The Silvester Group, said she saw more French people in her hospitality businesses and was now seeking more frequent and better freight links.
‘There isn’t a day that I walk through the doors of my business and recognise everybody in the room,’ she said.
‘I think that’s very telling that the connectivity is working. One thing is to get people through the doors, the other is to introduce new produce to our menus and I’d love to have more regular deliveries of fresh, chilled produce. At the moment we have one freight shipment a week. I would like more.’
John Bampton from the Norman Piette Group said he had explored bringing construction products in via St Malo, but there was more complexity in supplying the building industry.
‘There are some products that we can bring in more easily,’ he said.
‘But there’s a lot more to consider for the more structural products. We need to get some work done with Building Control, and speak to architects and tradespeople that are used to using British Standard products.
‘Then a lot further down the supply chain we’ve got to educate, engage with and change before we can start bringing in structural products.
‘It’s a lot to do with the industry, in terms of what will be acceptable – not that it’s inferior, it’s just different in dimensions, characteristics and so on.’
Paul Acheson, group sales and marketing director at Brittany Ferries, highlighted the overall growth the company has seen, and credited the strong relationships and partnerships that have been built with the island.
‘We’re encouraged that the numbers of day visits from France, in particular, have been strong for us,’ he said.
‘And with the changing of our schedule to try and tap into that market, we haven’t seen a drop in visitors from the UK, which has also been very encouraging.
‘From a freight perspective, it’s fair to say the supply chain will take a little bit longer to change, there’s still some work to be done and opportunities there.’
Mr Acheson said more partnership working between the ferry company, local firms and government would be needed to address taxation and customs issues on bringing in goods directly from the continent.
‘There are still these factors that need to be assessed by the businesses,’ he said, ‘and then working hand-in-hand with Brittany Ferries and the authorities, to ensure that we can maximise the opportunity.’
Mr Bampkin also addressed the possibility of industry partnerships and group orders to create demand for trailer loads, which attract concessionary fares from Brittany Ferries.
Mr Acheson said that the company was looking to update its booking systems and even enable pre-booking of activities, events and experiences available in Guernsey.
‘And we have the ambition to start linking the islands and focusing on multi-centre holidays that combine Sark, Herm and Alderney with Guernsey, and the opportunity to get the traditional customer to stop in Guernsey on their way to St Malo.’