Partnership philosophy focuses on value add

In line with a growing trend towards outsourcing in the logistics industry, service providers in the warehousing and distribution sectors are fielding increasing demand for their services. Independent groupage operator CFR Freight, whose initial focus was to provide a neutral NVOCC service to the freight forwarding industry, is seeing unprecedented growth in its diversified portfolio which includes ocean freight and airfreight, as well as warehousing and distribution through its national network of ZacPak depots. “Our original plan when we set up ZacPak was to provide packing and unpacking for ourselves and our freight forwarding clients,” managing director Martin Keck told FTW. “We saw ZacPak as the perfect extension to our business – but the huge demand for the services we are able to offer has been beyond expectation.” Cross-docking is now a big part of the service offering, says ZacPak group MD Willie Nel. “Some of the larger forwarders now have their containers/cargo delivered to our premises where we unpack and deliver to their individual clients.” It’s all part and parcel of the company’s new ‘Shifting Your World’ branding which focuses on a partnership philosophy with all its clients built around value add, says Keck, who is confident of further growth in this sector. The company uses a mix of its own trucks and subcontracted transport for its shorthaul deliveries. “We’ve also started a trucking service to Zambia and are looking at extending our services into other neighbouring countries,” he added. “The company has evolved along with industry trends,” CEO Peter Schmidt-Löffler told FTW. “As a neutral groupage operator we used to do LCL from port to port. We’ve now extended to many other links in the supply chain in response to the demands of our clients, the clearing and forwarding agents. “Being part of the global networks WWA and ACG, we are able to offer door-to-door services for imports or exports on a global basis.” The company has more than 25000 sqm of warehousing space in all major ports and airports. “By outsourcing to us, forwarders are able to concentrate on their core business.” Constantly upgraded IT systems provide live tracking and tracing through integration with customers’ operating systems, allowing them to provide their clients with live information, he added. INSERT & CAPTION 1 We’ve started a trucking service to Zambia and are looking at extending our services into other neighbouring countries. – Martin Keck INSERT & CAPTION 2 The company has evolved along with industry trends. – Peter Schmidt-Löffler INSERT & CAPTION 3 Cross-docking is now a big part of the service offering. – Willie Nel