In yet another sign of booming Saudi economy despite a prolonged global slowdown, a new logistics company with an initial capital of SR120 million was launched on Tuesday. Warehousing & Distribution Holding Company (WARED) L.L.C. is a new joint venture between Zahid Holding Group and Construction Products Holding Company (CPC), as a result of acquiring the assets of the two renowned logistics firms - Zahid Heanor and United Transport Company Limited (UTC) - which were subsidiaries of the holding companies. WARED would leverage the more than 30 years of unparalleled market experience and expertise of the two former logistics firms in the transportation business, resulting in a more efficient services performance. The new logistics firm is regarded as an “end-to-end” solution to all logistical needs, delivering “customized and high-capacity transportation services” across the Middle East and North Africa. WARED will provide comprehensive contractual solutions that enable clients to work accurately within the limits of their business assessments and cash flow expectations, said Brian McHale, chief executive officer of WARED Logistics. The company has about 500 heavy, medium and light trucks. It also has heavy trucks to haul heavy equipment of up to 45 meters in length and weighing up to 200 tons - including giant cranes. WARED is presently negotiating with a major international company specialized in storage and distribution of frozen foods, for the establishment and management of refrigerated warehouses in the Middle East. McHale further said that WARED has a “huge advantage” over other competitors due to its “flexible capital.” And as such, offers “very competitive rates” in providing door-to-door, sea, air and land transport services, aside from handling customs clearance through ports, airports and land entry points. It also offers integrated services for all types of cargo, including refrigerated cargo, cover shipment tracking and complete documents management. Equipped with the latest information technologies, WARED offers high performance and automated information feedback, in addition to full transparency in regards to shipment quantity and movement throughout the transportation process from issuance of the purchase order until final delivery by sea, air or land. “We currently have distribution centers in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, namely Jeddah, Medina, Yanbu, Abha and Tabuk on the west coast, Riyadh, Qassim and Hail in the central province, and Dammam, Hofuf and Jubail in the eastern province,” said McHale. Also we are about to finalize the design of the first two warehouses in Jeddah and Riyadh, each of about 40,000 square meters,” he added. “With 30 years' experience in this field we have a broad knowledge of the market requirements as well as the high capacity to meet these needs in the best ways,” said Marwan Alfadl, director, Business Development at Zahid Holding Group. Dr. Faysal Alaquil, director, Business Development of CPC, and the official spokesman, said “WARED was formed after a thorough study of the Saudi and regional markets where companies need high expertise and professionalism to facilitate their businesses, including the provision of modern transport equipment for carrying heavyweight or over-length cargos.” “In the Arab region, WARED has an integrated branch office completed with warehouses and trucks in the industrial zone in Damascus, Syria, and a distribution branch in Jebel Ali in Dubai. “Work is going on to establish offices, warehouses and a transport center in Egypt in the city of the 6th of October,” McHale said. “The expansion plan includes, in the short term, the opening of branches in Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria. The mid-term goal is to expand across the Arab countries to the far west, to South Africa, and eastward to Asia,” WARED's CEO added. __
