Cape warehousing facility supports wine industry

The market in the Western Cape was a profitable base for GMA Logistics in 2010, according to Ernest Burger, Cape Town branch manager. “We did well,” he told FTW, “reaching our goals in growth expectations both from a financial and customer base point of view.” Burger expressed positive expectations for 2011, but warned that various economic indicators told him not to expect too much. In developing its Western Cape facilities and products, GMA Logistics has concentrated on supplying services to a wide spectrum of the supply chain. “Logistics in SA is quite fragmented,” said Burger. “The general clearing and forwarding company’s services hardly represent more that 1% of the total logics chain from manufacturing to consumer. “At GMA Logistics we do a lot better.” The company’s latest commitment to the Cape Province is part of the proof of this statement. A state-of-the-art 600-square metre office block and 2 300-square metre warehousing facility has been developed at Airport City. It offers a fully operational general cargo warehouse, a bonded facility and an excise bonded facility especially aimed at supporting the wine industry. It is also fully geared, with under-cover dock levellers to handle both containerised and general cargo with the use of fork lifts. “One must aim to get involved in all avenues of the logistics chain,” said Burger, “thereby creating new revenue streams. Despite achieving internal efficiency, Burger stressed that external factors influenced the company’s business environment. “One of these factors,” he said, “is the stateowned enterprises (SOEs), like Transnet, which we need to work with on a daily basis. I agree with certain views that the SOEs have lost their focus on serving the country and helping to facilitate business and service delivery. “It seems that there is more emphasis on profiteering and filling state coffers. “I believe that an SOE should deliver services to our country at the cheapest possible price, making just enough to sustain growth and expansion.”