Johan du Plessis buys out K&N Perishables
THERE'S A new name in the perishable export market, JJ's Airfreight. And it's a name set to power its way into the top league of IATA airfreight agents if m.d. Johan du Plessis has his way.
Du Plessis, who boasts a quarter century of experience in the perishable airfreight industry, bought out Kuehne & Nagel Perishables in October this year, changed the name to JJ's Airfreight, and is operating from the previous K&N premises in Kempton Park.
Du Plessis, who started his career in perishable exports with Ršhlig 24 years ago, headed up K&N Perishables which was launched in October 1996. When the company decided to move out of perishables, Du Plessis grabbed the opportunity with both hands and bought over the company.
In Johannesburg JJ's provides 300 square metres of cooling facilities and 25 m2 of deep freeze capacity.
A facility in Cape Town, headed up by John Groves, who is also a shareholder in JJ's, provides 400 square metres of cooling.
Du Plessis is looking at expanding capacity in the new year with the acquisition of additional warehousing in an adjacent property and the purchase of additional reefer trucks.
And with a good rainy season just past, he's not complaining about volumes. Last Friday we moved 109 tons from Johannesburg.
The main cargoes from Johannesburg include pineapples 12 months of the year, flowers, avocados, mangoes and litchis, providing a seasonal throughput.
