Jersey Businesses Call for Greater Consistency from Future Ferry Operator

Businesses in Jersey are requesting that the upcoming Channel Islands ferry operator provide greater predictability for both cargo and passenger transport. Condor Ferries’ existing operational contracts with Jersey and Guernsey are set to conclude on 27 March 2025. Guernsey has selected Brittany Ferries as its preferred candidate to manage its vital maritime connections for the coming 15 years. In contrast, Jersey has not yet reached a decision, with its ministers awaiting additional details from the bidding companies. Among the entities expressing their perspectives, employees at Fotosound, an electronics retailer in Jersey, and the Randalls pub chain highlighted the necessity for improved consistency in delivery times. Mark Fisher, a floor manager at Fotosound, stated that while deliveries occasionally take two days, there are instances where the store might experience delays of “eight, 10 or 12 days.” He further elaborated, “We’ve got goods on the way to us at the moment that have been in transit for six or seven days on a two-day delivery.” Fisher added, “It’s very frustrating when you can’t get the stock for the customers. We need a lot of stock and they can’t get it to us.” Flo Aranda, the sales director for the Randalls pub and restaurant group, indicated that reliability constituted the primary concern for their business as well. Aranda explained, “All the alcohol we bring from the outside and after a disruption our stocks start to dry up and we lose business out of it.” He acknowledged the rationale behind prioritizing perishable items following a service interruption but noted that this resulted in the effect on alcohol supplies being “twice as bad.” He concluded, “It takes us longer to recover.” Qasim Khawaja, a sales consultant at Jersey Pearl, commented that an increase in transport choices for visitors to the island “would allow business to thrive.” He further stated, “Over the summer there was a big shortage of people coming from St Malo, summer was OK, but it could have been better if the ferries were more reliable.”