In a major milestone for logistics major Safcor Panalpina, the company has celebrated its centenary year at a series of functions for customers, suppliers and staff in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. In 1910 innovative businessman Fred Goldman spotted an opportunity delivering cargo in and around Johannesburg. He sealed his deals with a simple handshake before sending his mule carts to make deliveries timeously. Today, the fledgling company established by Goldman still delivers cargo timeously – but they do it around the world on a scale that would have left him gaping. “This is an incredible achievement for any company but more so for one operating in the tough environment of freight,” said Brian Joffe, chief executive of The Bidvest Group, which bought Safcor Panalpina some 18 years ago. Today the company has an international network of over 500 offices in 80 countries and partner companies in a further 80.
