Use of Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport as an international food and drink distribution hub was debated at an event organised by the Regional Food Group (RFG) for Yorkshire and Humberside last month.
Supply chain representatives met at the National Aviation Academy located at the airport, which was a base for the Royal Air Force's nuclear strike fleet of V-Bombers in the 1950s and 1960s. The RFG is proposing that the airport, which is adjacent to the M18 motorway with strong port and rail connections, be used for imports, exports, packaging, national and regional distribution.
Martin Christopher, professor of marketing and logistics at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, who was speaking at the event, told Food Manufacture the airport's large runways could be used for freight planes. "One of these runways has a lot of land adjacent to it, so there's scope for developing warehouses or processing facilities."
MP for Yorkshire and Humberside, Rosie Winterton, was at the event, Creating a vision for global food connections, and has indicated her tacit support for such a project. Ian Stansfield, Asda director for distribution was also at the event and expressed his interest.
"There is good support in terms of the industry and those working in distribution," added RFG chief executive Jonathan Knight. "We've got to find a good bank of tenants interested in setting this up."
The airport could be used as a processing base, avoiding the practice of receiving raw materials at southern ports or airports, sending them north for processing, then south again for consumption, said Knight.
The RFG is planning six networking and marketing events this year to encourage further industry collaboration.
A steering group meeting to discuss the airport proposal involving key players from road, rail and air logistics firms is also being held on March 10. Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward has signalled that it would consider funding the scheme and the RFG is also looking to the East Midlands Regional Development Agency for extra cash.