Aero Aqua expands national network

RAY SMUTS AS SOUTH Africa was preparing the long walk to democracy in April of 1994 Gill Wilkie and Averille Roberts were preparing a journey of their own, equally fraught with hills and dales – starting an international freight forwarding business from scratch. The result is Aero Aqua Global Logistics, an all-women team specialising in sea and airfreight shipments, with operations headed up by Judith Nel and Rosamund Grandin respectively, but at the same time offering a full spectrum of supply chain management services. Looking back 13 years, Roberts, the company’s marketing and public relations director, recalls how Aero Aqua focused initially on the footwear sector before moving into the import groupage market, leading and growing in that field for three years. “When the fragmentation of groupage traffic took place, we realised that the forwarding environment was changing and we diversified into exports and airfreight, also offering our clients many additional services, which included warehousing, packaging and transport” Headquartered in Durban but with representation in all major centres, in addition to an international agent network, Aero Aqua currently runs on a 60 / 40 import/export traffic basis, with a 20% airfreight input. The company has also become keenly involved in the movement of project and bulk cargo. Intent on serving the interests of several blue chip clients in Gauteng, it will be opening a Johannesburg office on August 1, again with a woman at the helm. Roberts describes Aero Aqua as “ very hands-on” in its approach, with Gill Wilkie, the president and CEO, often undertaking the quoting and management of new accounts. All too important is visiting overseas agents, a practice taking place on a regular basis. “This,” says Roberts, “ensures that agents are well informed about the requirements of the South African buyer. We stress the need for constant communication, tracking of shipments, updated transhipment details and early notification of arrival/ departure.”