ZPC Group
African Hospitality SpecialistsWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Stuart Parker Demonstrating its total service solution approach to development and construction opportunities throughout Africa over the past 20 years, South Africa-based ZPC Group is currently capitalising on lucrative opportunities in West Africa’s hospitality industry; delivering its top quality products on time, on budget and always aiming to exceed client expectations.“Our move into West Africa has been beneficial for existing clients operating in the region, while opening up doors to engage with new clients,” says Ben Pretorius, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ZPC Group.“There is definitely tremendous growth happening in this region, which bodes well for us in the future and will form a welcome addition to our project portfolio on the continent.”ZPC Group is comprised of numerous consultancies, technical and design companies, capable of fulfilling various construction disciplines, all of which combine together to create a turnkey contractor offering - from project execution to final handover and maintenance services - for clients who look to benefit from a single point of contact on any given project. “Our key focus is to ensure that we cover all areas and disciplines of the properties we refurbish and construct. The value-add offering is proving the preferred choice among our clients and enables us to create an individually-tailored solution,” the CEO details. This business model has resulted in ZPC’s involvement in projects such as the Hôtel 2 Février Radisson Blu Lomé, Beacon Island Resort Hotel in Togo; Sun City The Cabanas Hotel, Sun City Vacation Club and Sun City The Palace Of The Lost City for Sun…
Atlas Copco Zambia
Lasting Relationships in a Challenging MarketWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Eddie Clinton Having supported the mining and related industries in Zambia for more than 60 years, Atlas Copco has remained true to its Group ethos of providing innovative products, services and solutions that encourage sustainable productivity for a cost-effective price.Leveraging its internationally-renowned status to keep abreast of the latest technological advances, the Company recently released its free underground app in Zambia, providing extensive access to the Group’s vast range of drilling consumables, mining & rock excavation equipment, compressors and information on related aftermarket support and services to an array of longstanding customers.With innovation representing one of Atlas Copco’s core values, the app is a powerful tool for daily business use that can be delivered through tablet or smartphone, while boosting efficiencies of sales teams on the ground.The Company’s deep-rooted influence in Zambia has, in recent years, been affected by economic, industry and regional challenges, the need to react to market changes quickly remains key to standing out from otherwise saturated market conditions.Atlas Copco Zambia’s Former Regional General Manager (GM), Daniel Banister explained previously: “Back in 2014, we had to address our internal inefficiencies to adapt to the current levels of business in the region.“There was a significant drop over the past two years in Zambia in regards to customers purchasing equipment, but a strong focus on the aftermarket services side. We therefore looked at our organisation and how it needed to adapt to fit this level of business.”By the end of 2014, Banister and his team had achieved this diversification,…
Kalyan Hospitality Development Ltd
Making History in Africa and BeyondWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Stuart Parker Kalyan Group has long believed that its own development goes hand-in-hand with the social and economic development of the country in which it operates, and has subsequently ingrained itself into numerous industries - through a standardised set of philosophies and processes - to assist in the progress of a nation.Established by current Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ashok Gupta, who brings as much as two decades of international business experience from the global market to the Group, Kalyan has diversified and expanded over the years to cater for the hospitality, shipping, mining, fund management, agriculture and poultry sectors; but hotel development remains one of its key drivers.Benefiting from an active presence across not only West Africa, but also Australia, India, Mauritius, Malta and the UAE, the identification of long-term, sustainable projects fits naturally into the wider Group’s ethos of socio-economic enablement and continues to have a profound influence in Togo, especially.“Kalyan believes the Company’s growth is connected to the growth of the country and the Group carries responsibility towards the social development of the country where it operates,” emphasises Gupta. “Kalyan seeks to add value to the countries it operates in, adding to the capital and social growth, making sure the majority of employees are recruited locally, trained and certified to the highest level in their respective fields to assist them in building and promoting their careers and improve their standard of living.”This business model has thus been applied to Kalyan Hospitality Development Ltd in managing the refurbishment and…
Ethiopian Airlines
Soaring to New HeightsEthiopian Airlines continues to receive the acclaim of the surrounding industry, as it goes further than any African operator in bridging the continent to the rest of the worldWriter: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Tom CullumAs the largest and most profitable airline in Africa, it should perhaps come as no surprise to see the rapid expansion enjoyed by Ethiopian Airlines over the past 12 months, but the Pan-African global carrier has exceeded industry expectations and soared to new heights in 2015 to ensure it is not just the biggest, but the best.Embracing not just network enhancements, but also a careful acknowledgement of improved internal procedures, the culminating service offered across 91 destinations, five continents and 230 daily departures has led to numerous awards and widespread, international acclaim.Surpassing previously pioneering continental competitors in the process, Ethiopian Airlines’ seemingly constant broadening of its destination network has been a large driver behind the plaudits, both ‘nearby’ to other African nations, and to the wider world.Both Cape Town and Durban have been added to its previously sole South African representation in Johannesburg, while Goma in the DRC, Gaborone in Botswana and Yaoundé in Cameroon formed its domestic expansion strategy over the course of 2015.Meanwhile, Addis-Ababa was brought closer and more speedily than ever before to the likes of Tokyo in Japan, Manila in the Philippines, Sao Paolo in Brazil and Dublin in Ireland; complementing arguably its most significant foray which took the Company further into the US.Los Angeles was ticked off in mid-2015 and is now in…
Janus Services BV
Big Plans for Big BrandsWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Sammy Wilkinson With a presence in 18 markets across West and Central Africa, JANUS SERVICES is targeting internal improvements - including upgrading the supporting structure of technologies used by the Company - in order to improve efficiencies, drive better customer engagement, and keep up with the demands of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market.Established in West Africa in 1996, JANUS SERVICES is today considered an instrumental regional trading partner for the supply of foods to the local markets.Seeing strength in shifting high volumes of a smaller selection of food products led the Company to gradually expand into further African territories, investing heavily in promotion techniques and building a reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality trademarked products such as milk powder, coffee, tea, rice and vegetable oils.In 2008, JANUS SERVICES opened a new office in the Netherlands due to the country’s well-known status as a commodity trader and exporter into Africa. “Targeting the eventual aim of operating along the entire west coast of Africa, this strategic expansion has better positioned us to reach our own goals, as well as meet the goals of our clients,” says Sunil Lachmandas Samtani, Managing Director (MD) of JANUS SERVICES. Eight years-on and the Company is investing back into the business in 2016, placing an emphasis on technology and enhancing the already substantial role that it plays within the business.Leveraging the Company’s strong family culture, JANUS SERVICES is committed to providing a good quality product from a good quality source in accordance with the needs of…
a.b.e Construction Chemicals
Contributing to the Sustainable Building RevolutionWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Joe Palliser a.b.e. Construction Chemicals (a.b.e.) is making inroads into Africa despite facing an increasingly saturated market. Having launched several new products in 2015 as part of a wider growth strategy, aimed at diversifying its revenue streams by offering more solutions to its customers, the Company has significantly increased its market share in sub-Saharan Africa by widening the reach of its export division.Established in 1939 as a supplier of bitumen to municipalities in Kwa-Zulu-Natal, a.b.e. has grown in terms of both its size and product offering over the years; becoming a major supplier of specialised construction products to the building, civil engineering and building maintenance industries through an efficient branch network that secures a direct supply of product to its customers.Manufacturing out of its facilities in Boksburg, Johannesburg and Isipingo, Durban, a.b.e. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chryso Group, a leading international supplier of concrete and cement admixtures. “Chryso’s South African division has invested heavily in plant infrastructure and new technologies, as well as technical training and customer support which a.b.e can leverage to further enhance its position in the market and add value for its customers,” says the Company on its website.Entering 2016, a.b.e. is to continue improving its internal processes through investment in further upgrades to its production facilities and via innovative research and development programmes; while utilising its existing supplier channels to introduce these new products to the market which further support its vision for the future.Product performanceWith the addition of a Chryso office in Kenya…
PCS Group of Companies
Better Results and Better GrowthWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum PCS Group of Companies has developed into a leading importer, distributor and wholesaler of food and beverage products, and is now seeking enhanced diversification across its business arms to capitalise on an ever-broadening international presence.Recently celebrating its 50th birthday, the Pee Cee and Sons element of the Sierra Leonean Company has long thrived as a consequence of its key continental and global brand distributor arrangements, ranging across a variety of product categories.However, a later expansion into the manufacturing of plastic household items, plastic packaging, water tanks and PVC pipe solutions in 2001, via its sister Milla Group SL Ltd branch, has helped to form a much more all-encompassing prospect to potential consumers in the region.“On a business level, PCS Group of Companies puts consumers at the heart of its strategy,” says General Manager, Rajesh Hemnani. “We have continually strived to build brands that have an impact on the daily lifestyles of the average consumer and place extra emphasis on procuring quality products from around the world, working with top level suppliers. We have been very active with ATL advertising around the country to promote the availability and quality of our products.“Anticipating changes in customers’ needs has helped us stay robust in an ever-changing market and we take the time to study market research to get insights on how, where and when products are consumed.”The Group’s commitment to innovation and willingness to adapt to fluctuating trends has been pivotal throughout the business’s evolution, and remains core to its success today,…
Coca-Cola Sabco Mozambique
Gaining Momentum through a Strategic AcquisitionWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Josh Hyland With a global beverage portfolio comprised of more than 20, one billion-dollar brands, The Coca-Cola Company is taking all the right steps to capture the enormous growth opportunities available in the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage industry worldwide.After the announcement of an agreement to combine its European businesses into a new company called Coca-Cola European Partners Plc in August, 2015 – becoming the world’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler based on net revenues – the globally prominent bottling Company has been aggressively driving productivity and streamlining the business to accelerate growth across all its countries of operation.In Africa, Coca-Cola Sabco has also benefitted from this Group-wide vision, with preparations well underway to combine its non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages and bottle operations with SABMiller Plc and Gutsche Family Investments (GFI, majority shareholders in Coca-Cola Sabco) in East and Southern Africa. The new bottler, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, will serve 12 high-growth countries accounting for approximately 40 percent of all Coca-Cola beverage volumes in Africa. “A combined Coca-Cola bottling operation is further evidence of our commitment to Africa, and our firm belief in the tremendous growth prospects that the continent offers,” the Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, Muhtar Kent said in a statement at the time of the announcement. “As one of the top 10 largest Coca-Cola bottling partners worldwide, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa can leverage the scale, resources, capability and efficiency needed to accelerate Coca-Cola growth and contribute to the economic and social prosperity of African communities.”Coca-Cola Sabco Mozambique With an estimated consumer base…
Mars Food South Africa
Championing the Sustainability AgendaWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: James Mitchell As one of the world’s most reputed and renowned food manufacturers, it may well seem an inevitability that Mars is ahead of the game when it comes to efficiencies and sustainable operations, but the Company’s ability to remain entrepreneurial and flexible within a Group of that size is an attribute that few can match.The confectionery, food products and pet food producer is a truly global entity, with brands including Mars, Snickers, Bounty, Whiskers, Pedigree and Uncle Ben’s established household names in each region of operation. In South Africa, the Company is equally prominent through its manufacturing and distribution network, with the country one of the more interesting platforms on which to promote more sustainable processes and operational excellence.The annual gathering at the increasingly significant Retail Congress event once again set the tone for heavyweights like Mars to not just share their own expertise, but to feed off the industry’s potential game-changers, of all sizes, with a view to enhanced sector prominence in the future.Having been present in South Africa for 12 years, Mars’ ongoing investments into factory optimisation has been award-winning; complementing a general, global knowledge base and making the Company’s future incentives all the more fascinating for peers at Retail Congress Africa 2015.Triple bottom lineThis year’s topic discussed by Mars was ‘Driving a Triple Bottom Line Strategy: Championing the Sustainability Agenda’; an area very much in Mars’ wheelhouse and one which Mars Food’s Supply Chain Director, David Hallett happily addressed as he discussed the Company’s view towards a more…
Ghana Rubber Estates Ltd (GREL)
Staying FlexibleWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Joe Palliser Remaining solvent despite facing a global decline in the international price of rubber (SICOM) and steadily increasing operational costs, Ghana Rubber Estates (GREL) has placed a concerted focus on strategic ways to improve efficiencies and increase production for minimal cost in order to maintain its competitive position in a toughening market.“2015 was a difficult year, so we have been concentrating on lowering the cost of production while maintaining our high level of quality to meet our sales commitments,” explains Lionel Barre, Managing Director of GREL.Proud of its locally-recognised status as a truly Ghanaian Company embedded in the country’s industry since 1957 - and led by Barre who has brought his extensive history in the international natural rubber and agri-business sectors to Ghana - GREL is well experienced in handling fluctuating rubber prices and the many ways to adapt to keep its head above water.Continued consolidationAfter gaining support from the Government of Ghana and private interest from various tyre companies to rehabilitate Ghana’s natural rubber plantations in the 1990s and early 2000s, GREL has grown to a size of more than 20,000 hectares of estates today, with phase five of its outgrowers project nearing completion.“We have more than 40,000 hectares of outgrower rubber trees planted and are working to extend our activities to the western, central and Ashanti regions, and have most recently expanded into the eastern region,” says Barre.Not only has GREL been expanding the amount of land managed by outgrowers, but the Company has been replanting and extending its own estates…
