Perishable specialist diversifies

Good Hope Logistics has launched a national haulage service in conjunction with nominated partner trucking companies. It is also setting its sights on servicing the importation of dry goods from the Far East as well as the oil and gas, raw materials, minerals and timber industries, particularly in West Africa. Speaking to FTW in the company’s one-year anniversary month (May), directors Greg Rohrs and Jaco Visagie said the company had grown and diversified its business as a niche reefer logistics company despite the challenges – that include changing weather patterns, a volatile exchange rate, strikes, the very real threat of phytosanitary concerns into specific markets, as well as the ongoing hang-over effects of the recession. “We have weathered the first year pains of starting a new business. We adopted a customer/ commodity-specific approach when partnering with our customers and we have the loyal support of those partners in the marketplace,” said Rohrs. The company uses an integrated approach when providing forwarding and logistics services, including warehousing and distribution and documentation services for all cargo types, via all modes of transport, into and out of southern Africa. “Both directors are ex-shipping people, so when we decided to launch the business together, we knew we’d be able to differentiate ourselves through our collective shipping knowledge and experience, ensuring that we get the basics right with, for example, no delays in container release and no additional costs being incurred,” said Visagie. “We also want to be clear that while we are diversifying, we will not lose sight of our core business, which is perishables (containers/ breakbulk/air freight) – primarily fruit, but also frozen meat and fish,” said Rohrs. There are numerous developments in Africa, particularly West Africa, and along the east coast (Mozambique and Tanzania) where there are several infrastructure projects related to the oil and gas and minerals industry on the go. Good Hope plans to leverage its growing footprint there to bring supplies into the region on a project cargo as well as liner service basis. “We will focus on the oil and gas products, raw materials, minerals and timber.” CAPTIONS Jaco Visagie and Greg Rohrs… diversifying their service offering.