IMPERIAL Logistics wins three Logistics Achiever Awards

Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 September 2010 - IMPERIAL Logistics was awarded Gold and Silver at the prestigious 22nd Annual Logistics Achiever Awards (LAA). In addition, the Group, together with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and University of Stellenbosch won a Special Merit Award for the authoritative, annual State of LogisticsTM survey.

The LAA, hosted by Logistics News recognises professionalism and excellence in the effective application of strategic, tactical and operational logistics and supply chain management principles, concepts and practices in southern Africa.

Goldfields Logistics, a member of the IMPERIAL Logistics Group and South African paper and pulp manufacturer, Sappi Fine Paper won Gold recognising a relationship that is defined by collaboration and commitment, with the first proof point being that it has endured over a decade.

By balancing process, people and technology through close collaboration within Sappi Fine Paper's supply chain, Goldfields Logistics enabled tangible results and achieved real business empowerment over the duration of the relationship. The judges were impressed by the submission as the high level of business performance is positive proof that collaboration between the LSP and customer is thé key to deliver cost savings and to transform a transactional relationship into a strategic alliance.

By combining consistent fundamentals with tangible value add, Goldfields Logistics has delivered remarkable cost savings and operational efficiencies. "The relationship is remarkable in light of the full supply chain management accountability that Sappi entrusts Goldfields Logistics with," explained Marius Swanepoel, IMPERIAL Logistics CEO. "Trusted delivery, combined with supply chain management efficiencies has positively impacted Sappi's customer relations climate and helps the customer service team adapt pro-actively to market needs."

Dinga Mncube, Executive Director Marketing: Sappi Paper and Paper Packaging SA congratulated the Goldfields Logistics team, saying, "Based on the very high standard of entries received from across all industries, this award was a truly remarkable achievement. We are very proud to be associated with this very dedicated team that has proven beyond a doubt, that logistics excellence can still be achieved after a 10 year relationship."

IMPERIAL Logistics member company, Volition Consulting Services, a supply chain strategy consultancy renowned for its innovative solutions, together with Sasol won Silver for the impactful supply chain optimisation strategy it designed and implemented at Sasol Oil, responsible for the fuel marketing and distribution activities within the Sasol Group. Sasol Oil transformed its business to a supply chain organisation. In conjunction with Volition, Sasol Oil changed from a market channel focussed business to be primarily a process driven organisation.

Acknowledging the State of Logistics^TM survey as a study that demonstrates unparalleled understanding of the industry, Barry Saxon, Head of the Logistics Achiever Awards' Judging Committee said, "For the past six years, the team has produced this important survey, which highlights statistics, infrastructural requirements and identifies trends through which corporates can meet the logistics challenges they face head on."

Making reference to the State of Logistics^TM survey Special Merit Award, Swanepoel said that IMPERIAL Logistics is proud to be the sponsor of the study, which has become one of the premier references for logistics in South Africa through benchmark-driven research and long-term partnerships.

"Across all three award categories, IMPERIAL Logistics was acknowledged for its outstanding achievements in logistics and supply chain management, specifically relating to optimising complex supply chain business cases backed by performance measurement, and tangible supply chain improvement through collaboration," concluded Swanepoel.