Greendoor Logistics Group

HELPING LOCAL COMPANIES STAY ON TRACK

GREENDOOR GROUP

2 | Africa Outlook issue 81

SUPPLY CHAIN

M

ay 2019 was a landmark month in the scheme of Africa’s heightening development ambitions.

It marked the inauguration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade area since the WTO, that promises to accentuate the opportunities made available by the region’s rapidly expanding infrastructure, growing supply chains, broadening distribution networks and advancing mobility.

Indeed, owing to the continent’s

widespread emphasis on economic integration, these opportunities are now plentiful. According to the IMF, intraregional imports as a share of total imports has almost tripled in the past two decades, now valued at approximately $100 billion.

And that number is expected rise further against the backdrop of the AfCFTA, meaning the future for local logistics players like Greendoor Group looks incredibly bright.

“Logistics is ever changing; no day is ever the same,” explains Richard Hall,

the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

“It certainly keeps us on our toes. Back when we first started going into the DRC in 2008, there were long stretches of dirt and even one climb where trucks had to be towed by a wrecker.

“Fast forward 12 years, and the roads are now mostly tarred. Challenges remain of course, but trade has become much easier.”

Founded in 2006 by Ken Hall (Richard’s father), Greendoor Group set out to bridge the gap in crossborder transport, meeting the rising

BRIDGING THE GAP Greendoor Group is not merely helping to meet the demand for logistics across the rapidly advancing African continent – it is doing so by delivering the highest quality transport services which always put the customer first Writer: Jonathan Dyble | Project Manager: Lewis Bush

Africa Outlook issue 81 | 3

GREENDOOR GROUP demand for reliable service providers.

And it has been succeeding in its mission. Today, the firm specialises in the transport of containerised and breakbulk cargo between Durban, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Katanga Province of the DRC and beyond.

“We have always concentrated on the southern parts of the DRC with Kolwezi being our northernmost reach there,” the COO adds. “In Zambia, meanwhile, we are focused on the Copperbelt Province and in the last couple of years have travelled further northwest into Solwezi, as well as exploring Angola and Mozambique at the request of our clients.”

GOING THE EXTRA MILE It is this latter point that speaks volumes of Greendoor Group’s culture.

By Hall’s own admission, the company prides itself on being a client-focused enterprise, delivering on promises and backing the growth of its customers.

“We have always worked on personal touches and relationships, trying to understand what makes our clients tick,” he affirms. “We consider it highly important to know exactly what is expected of us before making any promises so that we are able to deliver the highest levels of satisfaction across every endeavour.”

Such is not only achieved through the company’s staunch values that include high ethical standards, integrity, reliability and proactive, open communication, but likewise because of its state-of-the-art fleet.

Each truck is fitted with 24-hour real time satellite tracking technologies, providing overriding visibility to the benefit of Greendoor Group’s own operational efficiency and for the peace of mind of its customers.

Further, the company offers a range of other value-added solutions including customs entries, bureau inspection valuation assessment control assistance, and warehousing and packaging 4 | Africa Outlook issue 81

350 VEHICLES AND COUNTING Here, Richard Hall tells the story of Greendoor Group, mapping out the company’s humble beginnings and its meteoric rise in the 12 years since joining.

“My brother and I had spent some time outside of South Africa studying and travelling, and decided it was best to get back to help our family grow the business,” he explains. “My father has always been involved in transport in some form or another, so we were always surrounded by trucks growing up.

“Soon after this in late 2007, my father was lucky enough to have a chance coffee meeting with Mike Koch. After the meeting and some further chats Mike became keen to get involved and took a stake in the company, and with his financial backing we were able to purchase our first vehicles in early 2008 – 20 International 9800s. We continued to grow the fleet consistently through the recession and by 2015 had in excess of 150 vehicles pulling both triaxles and super-links.

“Since then the fleet has multiplied, and we now run just over 350 vehicles along the North South Corridor.”

at its strategically located sites in Johannesburg, Lusaka and Chingola.

As this expansive portfolio suggests, fleet and technological improvements are forever on the company’s radar, striding to find new ways in which

its service offering can be bolstered.

And alongside the aforementioned, Hall is able to point to a number of other alternative, growth-related investments which are currently being pursued.

SUPPLY CHAIN

Clearing Forwarding Clearing Documentation Sea Freight Air Freight Road Freight General News

Cargo Services are leaders in the industry and 40 6th years of birthday Agritech Expo celebrates

experience has cultivated a strong solid working relationship with our various service providers. We are customs andLast EDIyear, the event featured several international pavilions again and a VIP attendance that accredited with a team of highly experienced staff. Cargo included three cabinet ministers and the Zambian President Edgar Lungu who visited the Services continually strives to exceed our clients’ expectations event for the fourth year in a row. and embrace all projects with ease and professionalism, ensuring Zimba said the 6th event is expected to leverthat we become a trusted partner for generations to come. age on the huge success of last year’s Agritech

WWW.CARGOSERVICES.CO.ZA Owen@cargoservices.co.za

A

The Forwarders gritech Expo anticipates luring more visitors to its annual agriculture jamboree slated for April.

and Zimbabwe.

In addition 3500 VIP and large scale farmers are expected to grace the event.

Where Service Counts

Jervis Zimba, President of the Zambia “Agritech Expo Zambia 2019 promises more National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the owners of Freight Forwarding Customs agro technology and innovation advancements the event said this year’s event at GART& is exas the event continues to unveil the future for pected to bring more than 20 000 visitors, over Clearing Agent our agriculture,” said Zimba.

220 local and international exhibitors, including international pavilions from Germany, Italy, UK

• Air, Sea & Road Freight Logistics • Customs Brokers • Worldwide Service, Worldwide Support • RIT/Transit Bonds available through Zimbabwe & Zambia

Expo, despite numerous challenges experienced which include the economic crunch and cholera and FMD outbreaks.

Agritech Expo Zambia will feature industry featured zones - livestock zone, live crop trials, machinery and equipment demos, construction park, 4x4 test track, energy park, international pavilions, indoor expo tent, irrigation zone, centre pivot display, agriteach training workshops, vip large scale farmers agenda, sme zone, business zone, aquaculture showcase and nethouse showcase New features for 2019 include livestock demos and workshops, live planting demos, more agriteach workshop zones and industry support.

Agritech Expo Zambia is owned by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

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- Local Expertise with Global Reach - Operating in Zambia for over 50 years

365 DAYS

Hill + Delamain ZAMBIA: 7216 Kachidza Road, Lusaka T: +260 211 286480 F: +260 211 286484 E: logistics@hdcargo.co.zm

ZIMBABWE: 22 Simon Mazorodze Road, Southerton, Harare T: +263-4-757721/629/860 F: +263-4-757658 E: logistics@hdcargo.co.zw

www.hill-delamain.co.zm 10

Zambian Agribusiness Magazine | April - June 2019

HEAD OFFICE AT PLOT 68291 PHAKALANE GABORONE MAIL: phakalane@kwanokeng.com PHONE: (+267) 396 0283/6 FAX: (+267) 396 0287 WEBSITE: www.kwanokengoil.com

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Africa Outlook issue 81 | 5

GREENDOOR GROUP

ONE GROUP THREE OFFERINGS Greendoor Group is made up of two divisions and a very close sister company in the form of Hauloads Zambia, each offering tailored, first-class logistics services for an array of different clientele. These include: CARGO 2 CONGO: Established to service the growing demand for transport into and out of the DRC and Zambia, it today accounts for 200 vehicles including super-links, 15-metre triaxles and specialised units such as step deck and low deck trucks.

KA GO 2 GO: Specialises in running consolidated express loads to Zambia, a niche market that has grown rapidly off the back of support from mining companies and their suppliers in Lusaka and the Copperbelt Province. Vehicles range from one-tonne to 32-tonne trucks.

HAULOADS ZAMBIA: The first established distribution centre and checkpoint for vehicles in the Greendoor Group, delivering to Zambia and further afield in the DRC. This division comprises 40 heavy haulage rigs currently but with the hope of expanding this fleet to approximately 100 in the near future, that provide the company with greater flexibility by enabling collection and delivery both in Zambia itself and to and from all other neighbouring countries. There are also a fleet of 150 Acid tankers that run between Zambia and the DRC.

6 | Africa Outlook issue 81

“We are hoping to purchase land in the Zambia Copperbelt in order to better service the region and use this as a springboard into the DRC,” he states. “Launching an extensive servicing centre for our fleet is also in our sights as it continues to grow, as is the installation of solar panels at our South African and Zambian depots to reduce reliance on the grid.”

WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TOWARDS RENEWED GOALS These are undeniably sound ambitions given the current trajectory of the regional economy. However, they are not only focus of the company’s current efforts.

Much like its emphasis on

developing and maintaining great relationships with its customers, Greendoor Group equally ensures it maintains similarly fruitful ties with its staff and suppliers.

Hall explains: “Our workforce is very important to us, as our whole ethos is built around our family business structure. The environment here is a happy and exciting one – our low employee turnover indicates that people enjoy working here and are motivated to come and deliver great services every day.

“Likewise, being a transporter, we rely heavily on our relationships with supply chain companies. That includes those who cater to relevant mines in both Zambia and the DRC, as

SUPPLY CHAIN

well as our own suppliers and service providers.”

Staying on the subject of important parties, talk then turns to a fourth critical facet for the company – catering to the needs of the communities in which Greendoor Group operates.

While the company’s leading logistics have helped to transform many a business in the region, a major part of its remit also includes contributing to the local landscape in wider ways, a recent example of this approach being its sponsorship of the Zambian Golf Open.

“We have been able to give back to the people of Kitwe via this sponsorship,” Hall states, “something that we want to continue to do moving forward.”

But what of the organisation’s other ambitions for 2020 and beyond?

First and foremost, its primary priority will be consolidating Greendoor Group’s position as the flagship cross-border transport company servicing South Africa. Alongside this, however, broadening the firm’s horizons into new markets is a particularly promising prospect and one which the COO is able to express buoyant optimism about.

“As I mentioned, we are very keen on furthering our footprint in Angola and Mozambique,” he reiterates.

“In the DRC meanwhile, the consensus is that exports will likely double in 2020 – a boom that will obviously be very positive for us and we hope that

a fair share of it will exit through South Africa.

“Overall, we have always had a very positive outlook from year to year and I think that attitude has brought us to where we are today. It is very easy to sit and complain about anything in life, but a lot harder to go out and make a real difference.”

GREENDOOR GROUP Tel: +27 11 316 5003 info@greendoorlogistics.co.za www.greendoorlogistics.co.za

Africa Outlook issue 81 | 7

GREENDOOR GROUP 35 Premier Street, Olifantatsfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: +27 11 316 5003 info@greendoorlogistics.co.za www.greendoorlogistics.co.za

PRODUCED BY AFRICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE