A combination of “persistence and service” have seen BCF International’s business grow through the Covid-19 crisis, according to regional business development manager Allison Pinheiro.As a relative newcomer to Zambian logistics, BCF has targeted certain sectors and customers.“Instead of taking on business for the sake of it we have concentrated on doing what we know we can do best through niche services,” she told Freight News.“In fact, we have been picky about working only with customers where we can help them to meet their budgets and strategic goals,” adds BCF International general manager Jonathan McDonald.“We came into the Zambian market with a different approach – to create a foundation on business that we know and understand.”
BCF International is part of BexGroup, a South African-based company. It opened in Lusaka in 2016 to serve the Bester Zambia operations, which is an agricultural trading compa ny.It has since become a stand-alone company with a presence in Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Having established a presence at all the Zambian border posts, BCF has started expanding the range of industries it serves, handling motorcycles and chemicals into Zambia.It has also handled northbound project cargo consisting of agro-processing ma chinery.
“Investment is happening in Zambia. We are moving new and refurbished manufacturing machinery into the country every month,” says McDonald.“From our initial focus on clearing, we are now a fully f ledged clearing and forwarding agent,” says Pinheiro.
Warehousing services are provided through partner operators. According to McDonald, BCF can also assist with international forwarding. “Our vision is to be an international clearing and forwarding company by building up an international network through strong partnership agreements in a number of countries in southern Africa, and across the globe,” he says.
According to Pinheiro the growth strategy includes retaining the personal touch as volumes and the number of clients grow. This helps to ensure that trucks move through the congested borders without undue delays.“We have cargo moving from all the South African ports, as well as airfreight out of OR Tambo on a weekly basis.“There have been delays, but I have seen the border more congested than it has been recently.“In order to reduce delays we ensure that all paperwork is in place before the truck arrives at the border – and then we have someone on hand to assist the driver,” McDonald says.
