Two-tier product caters for varying customer needs

Independent airfreight consolidator CFR Freight has developed a two-tiered product to cater for the varying needs of the market. “On many routes, our clients have the choice of a name-day service or next available uplift, depending on the urgency of their shipment,” says airfreight general manager, Dave Graham. And because airfreight is a volume-driven market, competitive rates are an added benefit on the company’s highdensity routes. On the import leg, the US and China continue to dominate, while Africa is emerging as the top contender in the company’s export portfolio, with the likes of Nigeria showing significant growth. Graham took over the airfreight helm late last year, bringing to the position an intricate understanding of the US market. “There are real challenges in doing business with the US,” says Graham, “particularly on inbound – the whole known/unknown shipper concept, whether or not your customer is an independent air carrier and so on. It’s unlike any other origin or destination in the world, mainly because of all the TSA requirements – and not a lot of people here fully understand the intricacies involved.” Complementing the product competence of locally based CFR staff is the company’s strong agency muscle, says Graham. Through its worldwide agency network – the Air Cargo Group – the company is able to offer a global, door-to-door option, which offers considerable advantages to forwarders who don’t have an international network. In Cape Town CFR has signed a joint venture agreement with Zacpak Warehousing to form Zacpak Cape Town Depot. “This enables us to offer a neutral container unpack facility to the forwarding fraternity, as well as handle our own import and export groupages,” says director and shareholder, Sean Menzies.