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PML (Perishable Movements Ltd) was founded by Parr in 2003 and the business was acquired by Seafrigo in July 2023, with Parr retained as a Director. In August 2024, Parr was appointed CEO of PML Seafrigo UK and Ireland, a role he officially leaves on 6^th January 2026.

Parr’s departure has triggered the appointment of Sean Smith as PML Seafrigo’s new CEO. Smith takes up the position with the UK’s leading logistics and supply chain solutions provider – part of the Seafrigo Group, whose cold chain logistics operations extend across 26 countries spanning five continents – effective from 1^st December 2025.

With an extensive background in logistics working with air, ocean and road freight, Smith also brings an impressive track record in the provision of strategic business advice to the role, servicing a range of clients seeking his proven expertise in identifying a roadmap designed to deliver against defined performance goals. 

Having formerly worked for a privately owned family business which was acquired by a global logistics operator, Smith is well placed to take over the stewardship of PML Seafrigo and continue its evolutionary growth within the Seafrigo Group.

Commenting on the changes, CEO of Seafrigo Group Eric Barbé says, “Mike is highly regarded within the industry having worked for over 33 years within the perishable freight sector during which he successfully grew PML to become one of the UK’s leading logistics companies with an enviable track record for innovation and customer relations excellence and an overarching commitment to delivering a quality service. We are grateful for Mike’s substantial contribution to both Seafrigo and the temperature-controlled logistics category in general. 

We are delighted to welcome Sean to the Seafrigo family and look forward to working with him to further grow our presence in the UK and globally.”

Commenting on his appointment, Smith said, “I was attracted to the significant potential that exists within PML Seafrigo and excited by the prospect of leading the company into the next chapter of its progression. PML Seafrigo already enjoys an enviable reputation for customer service excellence and a genuine superior quality service proposition.  My job will be to harness these – and other – key values and work with the team to establish a new blueprint for success in line with the vision shared by myself and Seafrigo Group.”

Smith will oversee a team of 115 permanent staff and will be based at PML Seafrigo’s Heathrow and Kent sites.

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Yesterday’s EU reset announcement makes a mockery of the last nine years. During this period, businesses in the supply chain associated with the fresh produce industry have put a huge amount of time, effort – not to mention significant financial investment – to establish appropriate protocols within the new Brexit trading landscape. 

Producers, logistics suppliers, industry stakeholders and government representatives attended countless meetings to work towards a solution which would allow a fair and seamless transfer of produce into and out of the UK. To say this has been a difficult road to travel is an understatement. The challenging number of U-turns, the persistent failure to listen to those working within the sector, the inability to meet deadlines, the constant whitewashing to suit each government’s agenda, I could go on. 

Many companies – including PML Seafrigo – have worked tirelessly to try and remain ahead of the curve and to be “Brexit fit”. In our case, we went as far as investing in a transport and logistics hub with remote HMRC / Defra approved Border Control Post status to enable a faster transit of consignments out of the Port of Dover. The site incorporated specialist inspection amenities for Defra personnel. We addressed the need for best-in-class facilities for drivers to match the fundamental services available to them in other European countries. We were at the front of the queue to apply for training to acquire Authorised Operator Status.

Just two weeks ago, discussions were held regarding the much-anticipated plant health border checks, due to commence 1^st July.  Baroness Hayman insisted there was to be no easement on the deadline and that the new required checks would be rolled out – this despite the issues the industry has repeatedly flagged concerning Sevington’s inability to cope with the required level of inspections. We also voiced our concerns regarding the absence of a definitive list of produce classified as Medium Risk, the lack of clarity regarding the Common User Charge and the unacceptably long evaluation of the pilot Authorised Operator scheme.

And now the Prime Minister has acted unilaterally to reset the rules. Without consulting the nation. Whatever your political persuasion, the fact remains that Brexit was the choice of the UK population, this maverick behaviour is inconsistent with the notion that Britain is a democracy.

We are now faced with the biggest U-turn of them all. And true to form, without any firm guidance to those affected most. There are no specific timings on when the new SPS protocol will start which will cause further bedlam at the border. In the absence of clear guidance, do we default to the original BTOM plans due to come into effect on 1^st July or are we able to kickstart the Authorised Operator Status scheme? Is the government planning to rollout official inspections throughout a 24/7 window? No thought has been given to the negative impact of inspection checks for non-EU fresh produce, which as Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive at the FPC correctly states accounts for 50% of fresh produce imports. These are countries that have stood by the UK during what can only be described as highly turbulent times. We’ve forged excellent working relationships with non-EU suppliers to maintain the year-round supply of produce. How can it be fair to now penalise those that have helped us simply because the government has failed miserably in its attempt to deliver on a cohesive border strategy? And has the government given any thought as to how businesses might be reimbursed for all the time and money spent on working towards the original Brexit plan?

The consumer will be oblivious to all the preparations made by those in the supply chain following the EU exit,  to ensure compliance with the government’s instructions. They may be about to find out with the chaos that is about to ensue. 

I truly despair as to what the future holds.

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Review the PML Seafrigo Dayboard for live updates on your consignments.

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The highly coveted award recognizes PML Seafrigo’s commitment to delivering outstanding and seamless solutions for its customers. As part of the Seafrigo Group, the company has been at the forefront of revolutionising global logistics for temperature-controlled goods, showcasing world-leading expertise in the field.

Eric Barbe, President of the Seafrigo Group and Head of Region UK and Ireland Mike Parr, the key representatives of PML Seafrigo, were present at the ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the company. This recognition highlights the company’s significant contributions to the fresh produce and floral industries.

“We are thrilled to receive this esteemed award,” said Mike Parr. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at PML Seafrigo and the Seafrigo Group. Our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has always been at the core of our operations, and this award reinforces our position as a leader in the industry.”

The FPC Fresh Awards are known for acknowledging excellence in the fresh produce and floral sectors, making this win a significant milestone for PML Seafrigo. The company’s success in securing the Business Service Partner of the Year award underscores its pivotal role in supporting and advancing these industries through its logistics expertise.

This achievement is expected to further strengthen PML Seafrigo’s position in the market and reinforce its commitment to providing top-tier services to its clients in the fresh produce and floral sectors.

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The nomination recognizes PML Seafrigo’s outstanding contributions and dedication to the fresh produce sector. This achievement highlights the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation in its business services.

Representatives from PML Seafrigo will attend the awards ceremony in London on September 27th, joining fellow industry professionals for this highly anticipated event. The team expressed their gratitude for the nomination and their excitement about the upcoming ceremony.

“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for this prestigious award,” said a spokesperson for PML Seafrigo. “It’s a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome!”

The FPC Fresh Awards celebrate excellence across the fresh produce industry, honouring companies and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance and innovation. The Business Service Partner category specifically recognizes organizations that have provided outstanding support and services to the sector.

As the awards night approaches, PML Seafrigo extends its thanks to its partners, clients, and the wider industry for their continued support. The company looks forward to joining its peers in celebrating the achievements of the fresh produce sector at this landmark event.

Stay tuned for updates on the results of the FPC Fresh Awards. CopyRetry

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The announcement follows a reorganisation of the PML Seafrigo management team which also sees Ryan Parr assume the role of Operations Director for the UK and Ireland, overseeing the efficient and seamless transfer of temperature sensitive goods by air, ocean and road.

Commenting on the appointment, Seafrigo Group CEO Eric Barbé said, “Mike’s profound knowledge, understanding and expertise within the perishable goods market and his impressive reputation within the sector, not just as a successful business operator but also as a key figurehead and spokesperson who is regularly sought out to comment on the challenges facing our industry, combine to make him the natural candidate to continue PML Seafrigo’s growth and development. Seafrigo has exciting expansion plans in place to enable the business to continue in its journey, to becoming the world’s leading end-to-end temperature-controlled food logistics solution and I’m confident that under Mike’s stewardship, PML Seafrigo will be integral in the future success of Seafrigo Group.”

Mike Parr says, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be working closely with Mr Barbé to lead PML Seafrigo into the next phase of its development. Of course, when PML was sold to Seafrigo, I did consider retiring but I soon realised that I’m just not ready to adapt to the quiet life and still absolutely love the buzz associated with working in this sector! By harnessing the global presence and extensive resources associated with both companies, together with the shared ongoing commitment to the delivery of a best-in-class customer service, I firmly believe that PML Seafrigo will further enhance its reputation for excellence within the specialist field of logistics and supply chain solutions for perishable goods.”  

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The common user charge (CUC) is effectively another business tax that will be applied to each commodity line in a Common Health Entry Document (CHED). Although fees are capped – £145 for every consignment arriving via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel –this is another expense for importers and retailers to bear, which will of course be reflected in further delays at the ports and another price hike for essential food items.

What is particularly frustrating is that the fee is being levied for all fresh produce / plants goods passing through Dover or Folkestone – even if they don’t pass through the government controlled inspection post at Sevington.

PML Seafrigo has its own 24/7 border control post at Lympne, which is the closest point of entry to the Port of Dover (closer than Sevington), we have a dedicated transport and logistics hub for imported goods and yet our customers will still be charged the CUC even though they will not be using the Sevington facility. The government is effectively asking businesses such as ours to collect taxes on their behalf. And the fact that this fee will be reviewed and updated annually by Defra is itself worrying, it could easily be increased in 12 months’ time. 

Once again, the consumer will ultimately pay the price not just due to the inflated cost of these goods but also, via a reduced availability of certain food items. Post-Brexit, there is a growing reluctance to export fresh produce to the UK because it is now fraught with bureaucratic policies and red tape and this latest additional cost is just further ammunition for that argument.

All this at a time when we were under the impression that the government was encouraging the nation to consume more fresh produce as part of the drive towards a healthier lifestyle. This will ensure the exact opposite result.

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With Seafrigo enjoying a 47-year heritage, and PML celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2023, the combined knowledge and expertise of both companies within the temperature-controlled goods sector is impressive, and reinforces the Seafrigo ‘world-leading specialist in temperature-controlled logistics’ proposition.  For PML Seafrigo customers, the move provides clear opportunities to capitalise upon Seafrigo’s extensive geographic reach to deliver a truly global, secure end-to-end solution.

In line with Seafrigo making a conscious decision to be asset heavy to enable complete control of the entire cold chain and avoid reliance on third parties, acquiring PML provides ownership of the company’s HMRC/DEFRA approved Border Control Posts and ERTS bonded warehouse facilities in Kent and Heathrow – in addition to expanding its superior UK customs handling service. It also represents an opportunity to grow its European road freight offering, increasing its HGV fleet by a further 30 Euro 6 compliant lorries, six of which feature the pioneering powered roller bed floor system representing a UK first. 

PML Seafrigo customers will now benefit from seamless access to new supply chain routes all over the world, across air, ocean and road, which includes an exciting new product for ocean freight customers.

Commenting on the acquisition, Jason Spencer-Knox says, “These are exciting times for Seafrigo and PML Seafrigo. Not only do the two businesses align in terms of their product offering and dedication to offering an exceptional service which ensures the transfer of temperature-controlled goods with no break in the cold chain, they also share a similar ethos in terms of an overriding commitment to always place the needs of the customer at the heart of any corporate decision making, choosing to remain autonomous rather than developing reliance on services controlled by third parties. The sensitive nature of the freight that we both specialise in requires the utmost attention to detail to guarantee an efficient and speedy transfer to maximise shelf life, the ‘golden mile’ is a major hurdle for growers, producers and manufacturers, especially in light of the additional challenges presented by Brexit, PML Seafrigo represents a safe and reliable partner to complete the journey.  Bringing PML into the Seafrigo fold brings us one step closer to realising our ambition to become the fastest and largest integrated perishable supply chain provider in the UK and globally.”

Mike Parr, PML Seafrigo Director says, “As a business we’ve always taken pride in being ahead of the curve, constantly innovating our product offering and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the industry. Our priority remains to offer a best-in-class service for perishable goods and by providing our customers with a direct route to the global infrastructure available via Seafrigo, we can continue to grow our operations, supplying genuinely worldwide logistics and supply chain solutions delivered with the outstanding knowledgeable and highly personalised customer care for which PML is renowned. After 20 years’ in the industry, we are looking forward to embracing this new phase of growth and expansion whilst also providing our staff with excellent career development opportunities.”

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PML Seafrigo is delighted to share that the company has been named among the finalists for the Fresh Produce Consortium’s (FPC) Fresh Awards 2023, not just once but twice!

The team is in the running for the Business Service Partner award, while our very own Joseph Sanders (Seafreight Operations Clerk) is up for the Rising Star of the Year gong. 

The Business Service Partner Award will be presented to the stand-out company which during the last year has gone above and beyond to provide essential business support to the UK fresh produce/cut flower industry, within the field of: logistics, packaging, IT, ports, shipping, machinery, freight forwarding, science labs and chemical manufacture.

The Rising Star of the Year Award is an exciting accolade that identifies the under 30-year-old ‘young guns’ working in the fresh produce and cut flower sectors who have shown vision, creativity, and determination.

FPC Fresh Awards is a prestigious annual event hosted every year by the FPC. It represents an important opportunity for the fresh produce industry to unite to celebrate success, network in-person and make life-long connections.

FPC’s annual Fresh Awards recognise the produce industry’s finest, and PML Seafrigo is up against some great names in both awards categories. 

We wish everyone the best of luck! 

FPC Fresh Awards 2023 will be held on Friday 29 September at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

The full list of 2023 finalists can be viewed here. 

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