DHL working with Florida live fish importer

DHL working with Florida live fish importer DHL said one of its newest customers has presented some unique challenges and distribution services. The company is working with a Tampa-based importer of live tropical fish and distributing the product throughout the U.S. Southeast.
   DHL has teamed with 5-D Tropical, which imports fish from Asia, Africa and South America for retailers primarily in the Southeast. The company also raised live fish at a facility near Tampa.
   Officials said 5-D was having trouble delivering live fish safely to its customer base, but is now using DHL's 'hub induction' program for next-day ground deliveries.
   Hub induction is a contract service based on drop shipping at DHL hubs. 5-D uses one of the two DHL hubs in for the region, receiving live fish and then getting them to retailers within 24 hours.
   For ground or air transport, 5-D Tropical fish are packaged in heavy duty plastic bags injected with oxygen to sustain life for up to 40 hours. Sealed in plastic enclosed in Styrofoam, the shipping containers protect the fish against normal temperature variants, with special heat packs or cold packs to withstand extreme temperatures.
   Jason Diaz, vice president of 5-D Tropical, said the delivery network is opening up new opportunities for his company, and 'allows us to be much more competitive with other pet shop and supply businesses in the region.'