Big-name brands keep Phoenix rising

Logistics operator

Phoenix International

Logistics last year

recorded growth

of 27% and is

continuing to see

record-breaking

month on month

profits, according

to managing

director Craig Melnick.

“In a static – and even

contracting market place –

it’s about tapping into where

other freight forwarding

companies are failing,

whether it’s service or rates,”

Melnick told FTW.

“It’s a very fine balance –

and we believe we’ve got the

formula right.”

Big brands in the Phoenix

stable include McDonalds,

KFC and Pizza Hut.

“We’ve been doing the

forwarding and clearing for

McDonalds for over a decade

– and with that comes a

lot of perishable exposure.

Working with Envirotainers

we can move anything from

minus 20 degrees upwards.

“We’re also involved in

the pharmaceutical industry

and project cargo where we

deliver bottling plants to the

likes of SAB Miller and Coca

Cola.

“No matter what time of

day if there’s an emergency

shipment of any size – which

happens all the time – we

organise it and fly it in

overnight if required. Every

client has direct access

to me. The company is

structured in such a way

that one controller handles

everything – air, sea, road,

imports, exports and

invoicing – so there’s always

accountability.”

It may be a cliché – but

Melnick firmly believes that

people are a

company’s

biggest asset.

“We really

take care of

our people.

Among the

benefits we

have put in

place are an

‘Employee of

the Month’

competition

with a spa

voucher for

the winner and runner up.

The overall winner for the

year gets a holiday for two to

any destination in the world,

which they can also convert

to cash. Every Friday lunch

is on the company and the

choice is left to each branch.

“We also pay premium for

good staff and as a result

65% of our staff have been

with us for five years or

longer and 33% joined ten or

more years ago. And that’s a

huge benefit from a customer

perspective.”

For the future,

diversification is key. “We

are targeting a lot of smaller

shippers and have recently

taken on a number of new

accounts,” said

Melnick.

Established

19 years ago as

a one-person

operation,

Phoenix has

offices in

Johannesburg,

Durban and

Cape Town

and employs a

staff of 33. It

is a member

of the global

CPN network representing a

heavyweight agency line-up

in 100 countries.

With a 70/30 split of

sea to air shipments, the

company is predominantly

import-driven, but has seen

growth in its export profile,

particularly into Africa, with

the likes of KFC and Pizza

Hut expanding significantly

on the continent.

INSERT & CAPTION

It’s about tapping into

where other freight

forwarding companies

are failing, whether

it’s service or rates.

– Craig Melnick