Perishable exporters stick to their core business

RAY SMUTS PROVIDING A total door-to-door logistics function is what LCL Grindrod is all about. It’s a question of integrating and co-ordinating all logistical functions from pack house to final destination to ensure that products arrive within protocol at the correct time while maintaining the correct quality. “With more than 40 offices worldwide, LCL offers its clients a comprehensive menu of logistical services which include all-inclusive quotations, total door-to-door bills of lading and a single invoice,” says LCL Grindrod’s Anton Robertson. “This reduces the administrative load substantially so that exporters know in advance exactly what their total logistics costs are.” The main objective is to provide peace of mind to exporters by offering a one-stop-shop that enables customers to focus on their core competencies – the production and marketing of fresh fruit and vegetables, says Robinson. “Our goal is to empower the exporter to structure his logistical supply chain according to the amount of responsibility he is willing to accept in managing the risk between farm gate and final place of rest before consumption.” To stay profitable over the medium to long term each role player in the fruit industry has to focus on its core competency, says Robinson. “Growers have to focus on producing the best fruit humanly possible, exporters have to focus on providing the best returns possible, and logistics providers have to be in a position to bring the buyer and the seller together through the provision of integrated logistics services based on the needs of all parties involved. “It is important for producers and exporters to assume the responsibility of managing risk as far down the supply chain as possible to eliminate duplication and achieve total cost reduction.” LCL Grindrod is a registered South African company and is one of a number of regional offices based in South America, USA, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. New offices are soon to be opened in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea and China.