IMPERIAL Logistics
IMPERIAL Logistics, a division of the JSE listed IMPERIAL Group is a global logistics and supply chain leader that moves business and industry through innovation, inspiration and foresight. An employer of approximately 19 000 people internationally, fast moving, forward thinking IMPERIAL Logistics delivers excellence in end-to-end logistics and supply chain management – enabling blue chip customers in almost every industry to grow in an efficient, proactive and cost effective manner.
Founding Year
1975
Global Reach
As a preferred Logistics Service Provider (LSP), IMPERIAL Logistics positions itself as an extension of its customer’s business, building customer brands alongside its own. IMPERIAL Logistics Southern Africa is a multi-branded business comprising more than 70 member companies. It has five divisions, namely Transport and Warehousing, Consumer Products, Specialised Freight, Africa and Integration Services.
Apart from established operations in southern Africa, IMPERIAL Logistics has extended its activities to Europe with an International division headquartered in Germany. Comprising four brands, namely Panopa Logistik, neska, IMPERIAL Reederei and Brouwer Shipping, collectively IMPERIAL Logistics International offers services including air, sea and land transportation, warehousing, clearing and forwarding, container operations and multi-modal transportation.
IMPERIAL Logistics owns more than 5,500 vehicles, manages and operates an additional 2,000 vehicles through subcontractors and warehouse capacity of more than 711,000 m². Through IMPERIAL Logistics International and operations that span 14 African countries, customer logistics and supply chain reach is extended from Europe to the USA, India and the Far East.
Focus on FMCG and Retail Industries
Through IMPERIAL Logistics’ Consumer Products division, the company focuses on service delivery to the FMCG and Retail industries as well as the agriculture and furniture markets. The division distributes into top-end retail, mid-market trade and smaller retail environments, offering primary and secondary transportation, refrigerated and multi-temperature transportation of food, express distribution of food and goods as well as selling and merchandising services.
The Operating Companies within the Consumer Products division include the following:
- Broco Transport Consultants
- IMPERIAL Logistics Refrigerated Services
- Etosha Transport
- Freezerlines
- IMPERIAL Distribution
- IMPERIAL Truck Rental
- The Cold Chain
- TFD Network Africa
- Milling Logistics
- EWC Express
- Wilco Transport
End-to-End Service Model
IMPERIAL Logistics’ differentiators lie in a combination of preeminent supply chain management skills and an extensive resource base of transportation, warehousing and storage, as well as best-of-breed technology systems. Yet its business is much more than warehousing, transportation and distribution. IMPERIAL Logistics truly understands its customers’ businesses to add value, improve services, reduce costs and exceed individual supply chain requirements.
Globally, logistics operations and supply chains are increasingly outsourced to Logistics Service Providers (LSPs). IMPERIAL Logistics sees this dynamic as requiring a journey from being a “good service” provider to a customer’s strategic, trusted logistics and supply chain partner. The Group is involved in various types of outsourcing, ranging from the provision of consistent fundamentals including warehousing, transportation across numerous modes, freight forwarding and clearing, right through to the provision of advanced advisory and technology services.
Businesses outsource for many reasons, gaining benefits such as increased focus and reduced cost. They outsource to secure speed of delivery and customer satisfaction, to reduce and share risk and to gain access to leading-edge technology and global best practice. IMPERIAL Logistics’ view is that outsourcing to a Logistics Service Provider (LSP) is not an all or nothing proposition. Outsourcing success lies in finding the right “strategic fit”. Realising the level of expertise and resources required to invest in supply chains. Determining which services to keep in-house and which to outsource.
Preferred Logistics Service Provider
IMPERIAL Logistics not only has the capacity and capability – it provides end-to-end supply chain management solutions on an outsourced basis to various blue-chip customers, having established itself as an extension of their businesses.
As a preferred Logistics Service Provider, IMPERIAL Logistics customises various types of individual, non-integrated logistics solutions and integrated logistics services to satisfy customer requirements through its Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and Fourth-Party Logistics (4PL) services. The Group also has established long-term relationships with customers, wherein it acts as their single source service provider and/or on a Lead Logistics Provider (LLP) basis. IMPERIAL Logistics further adds continuous value through the supply of advanced services, including supply chain engineering, network modelling, planning and forecasting and asset protection services.
Through its service delivery, IMPERIAL Logistics focuses on greening the supply chain, by pioneering new ‘green logistics’ approaches, best practices and technologies. The Group is South Africa’s first to introduce the revolutionary Euro 5 standard fleet and uses zero-emission transport refrigeration. Its innovative ‘extra distance’ studies cut carbon emissions and cost within the supply chain.
Collaboration with business, industry, logistics and supply chain industry bodies, government as well as research and academic institutions is a significant focus for the IMPERIAL Logistics. Through initiatives such as the Annual State of Logistics™ survey, sponsored by the Group and produced in collaboration with the CSIR and Stellenbosch University, best practice is consistently developed.
People Development and Transformation
Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) is a strategic imperative for IMPERIAL Logistics. In December 2010, BBBEE certification agency NERA verified IMPERIAL Logistics as a status four (4) contributor with a 125% Procurement Recognition Level according to the B-BBEE codes. In 2007, IMPERIAL Logistics was a status five (5) contributor with a 100% Procurement Recognition Level, which the company improved on in 2008 with a rating of status four (4) contributor with a 125% Procurement Recognition Level. With the 2010 rating, IMPERIAL Logistics improved further with a higher overall score than what was achieved in 2009 under a status four (4) contributor category. The progression signifies IMPERIAL Logistics' commitment towards B-BBEE. IMPERIAL Logistics officially qualifies as a Value Added Supplier.
An Employer of Choice to a consistently growing workforce, IMPERIAL Logistics has grown 13,000 employees in 2001 to 16,000 in southern Africa and 2,760 internationally in 2010. During 2009/10, IMPERIAL Logistics invested 53% more into people development and training than the previous financial year, despite the global recessionary impact being in full swing in southern Africa.
Fast Moving, Forward Thinking
• The IMPERIAL Logistics Advantage ... to support an enterprise's competitive position, which relies on its supply chain.
• Agility ... supreme adaptability in the global market.
• Back-to-basics ... getting the fundamentals right.
• Cutting costs ... IMPERIAL Logistics’ primary goal continues to be wringing cost out of the supply chain.
• De-risk ... mitigation of supply chain risk and disruption.
• Efficiency ... IMPERIAL Logistics’ sole focus is optimal efficiency in the supply chain.
• Growth ... delivery of ramped up capacity for renewed growth.
• Innovation ... driving product and process advances.
• Speed ... enabling businesses to get to market faster.
• Green … through investment and operational behaviour, IMPERIAL Logistics is leading the green logistics evolution.
“Our reputation is founded on developing intelligent and tailor-made solutions for our diversified blue chip customers by leveraging processes, people, technology and infrastructure. We value the strength of our strategic partnerships and alliances with leading technology partners in the process. Our track record is underpinned by our ability to determine the correct operating model, building the business case and implementing the agreed solutions effectively and timeously.” Marius Swanepoel, Chief Executive Officer, IMPERIAL Logistics
|
|
