Botswana specialist invests in major warehouse expansion

JOY ORLEK
THE FAST Moving Consumer Goods market between South Africa and Botswana is on a growth curve. So much so that Warehousing Services Botswana will add 8 000 m2 of additional capacity when it moves into its 24 000 m2 Botswana facility in October this year. Construction is under way and managing director Brian Bakeberg is confident that the deadline will be met. After 20 years in business, WSB has cornered 60% of the FMCG market on the route, consolidating and collecting in South Africa for national redistribution in Francistown, Kasane, Maun and Central Districts of Botswana. The company recorded a big increase in volumes a year ago, according to Bakeberg, tempered more recently by the weaker exchange rate. “But we’ve picked up other business, which has kept our volumes ticking over.” Preclearance Goods are moved exclusively by road, the company’s 80-strong fleet keeping outsourcing to a minimum. Further streamlining the flow of goods, WSB preclears all cargo from its recently established Zeerust depot or from its Botswana headquarters. One of the major challenges on the South African side is hijacking, according to Bakeberg. And this is on the increase despite significant investment in sophisticated satellite tracking on all vehicles.