BALtrans brand in S. Africa another chapter in 30-year history
Johannesburg-based Clover Cargo International has changed its name to BALtrans Clover Cargo Pty Ltd, following the purchase of a majority of its shares by BALtrans Holdings of Hong Kong in 2006. Clover Cargo was founded in 1989 by Vincent Magnus and Geoff Partridge, who now remain as senior executives and shareholders, along with all the Clover staff. BALtrans Clover Cargo is in South Africa’s top 20 agents. It employs 270 staff, operating from 6 locations: 3 in Johannesburg, with additional branches in Capetown, Port Elizabeth and Durban. The company is currently biased towards imports into South Africa, and is fulfilling a growing role as a hub for internal distribution throughout much of Africa, exploiting South Africa’s unmatched choice of air- and ocean services from worldwide markets. Its activities also include a growing element of added-value logistic services. Says Chief Executive Vincent Magnus: “Our aim is to develop export traffic in general, and traffic into other African markets in particular. We have seen 25% average annual growth over the past three years, led by an effective sales activity and a strong economy. We have every confidence that we can maintain and improve on this performance now that we are a fully-integrated member of the worldwide BALtrans Group.” The name change in South Africa reunites under one banner two teams who have been working together for over 30 years. The directors of BALtrans UK – which changed its name from JLS Logistics earlier this year – have worked with Magnus and his senior team through no less than six changes of name and ownership spanning more than three decades. Explains BALtrans UK MD Eddie Stroud: “When John Gomes (now UK Chairman) and I were at ASA International in the 60s, Vincent and his colleagues were running our South African agent Rennies. We both underwent several subsequent changes of name and ownership culminating in MSAS both in the UK and South Africa. Then we both broke away and set up independent but associated companies under the Clover brand. Now we have both joined the BALtrans Group, and adopted its identity.” He continues: “South Africa has become one of our top markets for UK exports, both by air and sea. We are once again working under the same banner with a team whose local knowledge and skills are unparalleled. We can target traffic to South Africa and beyond, in the confident knowledge that the other end of the supply chain is in the capable hands of colleagues we have known and trusted for more than three decades.” About BALtrans For further information, please contact: BALtrans Clover Cargo Pty Ltd BALtrans Logistics UK Ltd BALtrans Holdings Limited Pilot Marketing Services |