Six months since
taking over the agency
representation of
groupage operator EURO
Italian Freight Systems,
Johannesburg-based E.C.I.
Freight has launched an
aggressive marketing
drive to grow its groupage
business from Italy.
E.C.I. offers a neutral
and independent service,
targeting freight forwarders
only, and specialising
purely in groupage cargo
from Italy – at this stage.
Marco Pesci, who brings
some 30 years of industry
experience to the table,
believes that his Italian
roots add a competitive
dimension. He now runs
E.C.I. with his sons
Maurizio and Massimo.
The weekly groupage
service, hubbing in Milan,
serves all ports in South
Africa, with transhipment
opportunities into the rest
of Africa.
“We offer competitive
transit times to Durban and
Cape Town at competitive
rates,” says Maurizio, “but
our service offering goes
beyond rates. As a familyrun
business our service
is hands-on and every
customer is guaranteed
the same level of service,
regardless of size.”
E.C.I. is no stranger to
the Italian import groupage
market, having launched
the EURO Italian Freight
Systems product in the local
market in 1999. After a
hiatus of six years, during
which E.C.I. has diversified
into the project field,
moving cargo for the banks,
mines and forestry industry
into Africa, the company
is upbeat about market
growth.
“We’ve always believed
that diversification is
prudent and will continue
to grow and develop
the project side of our
business,” Marco told FTW.
“We are however
optimistic about the
groupage cargo from Italy,
which has always been a
fairly stable route, and will
be focusing our energies on
growing our market share.”
CAPTION
Hands-on service … the Pesci family from the left Marco, Massimo
and Maurizio.
