Keeping tight control of short-time supply lines while balancing challenges in the cold-chain cargo environment has enabled one of Namibia’s leading food and retail distributors to maintain its edge in the market.According to Terry Pieterse, retail general manager for Seapride Foods in Windhoek, the company has entrenched agreements with principals, requiring that delivery is done once a week – no exceptions!In a country known for its vast distances – Namibia is more than 1 500 kilometres in length and 600km in breadth – such a business model necessitates acute network planning.“We deliver to 53 towns every week right across our country,” Pieterse says.To put that into perspective, it means that Seapride delivers to a South African suburb spread out across the entire Namibia every seven days, keeping in mind that Namibia has a relatively small population of just over 2.6 million people, as per census figures released in April.“Some of our routes are 2 000km round trips, and whether it’s one box or a full load, we don’t deviate from our commitment to deliver once a week.”Pieterse admits that it’s often challenging. “It keeps us on our toes.“Cost, of course, is a big issue. Fuel pricing in South Africa affects our 3PL partners, so we do a lot of consolidations between retail and chilled goods to make sure our delivery network makes business sense.”This entails focusing on Namibia’s key areas, which Pieterse breaks up as 50% focused on distribution in and around Windhoek, with about 15% each concentrated on the Walvis Bay area and Oshakati up north.Should any delivery be required for far-f lung towns such as Ruacana on the Angolan border, it’s made possible based on the balance of business that Seapride has to main delivery hubs such as Oshakati, Pieterse says.“I know, for example, of a lodge right up north on the Skeleton Coast where supplies are needed on a regular basis. Namibian logistics means you simply have to figure out a way to get it done as affordably and effectively as possible.”
