SINGAPORE and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20,
2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Menlo Logistics, the US$1.5 billion global logistics and supply chain
management subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), continues to
experience significant growth in the South Asia region in 2014 and is targeting
increasing its presence in Thailand and Malaysia, and adding to its portfolio supply
chain services for two major new industries as key opportunities
for 2015.
These and other developments, including the company's recent
rebranding initiative, were discussed today in a briefing for
industry journalists hosted by Robert
Bassett, Menlo's vice president of marketing and sales, and
Desmond Chan, Menlo's Singapore-based managing director in
South Asia.
"2014 has been an excellent year for Menlo in South Asia, where in the third quarter we
experienced over 10 percent year-over-year growth," said Mr.
Bassett. "We've added 27 new projects so far this year and expanded
our client base significantly, positioning us for a good start in
2015."
The growth trend was supported by major investments in new
state-of-the-art facilities — one in Singapore's Benoi Sector as well as one in
Shah Alam — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — and another
multi-client warehouse that opened in Lakrabang, Thailand. Collectively, the three new sites
added 69,000 sq. meters of warehouse space across the region,
bringing the total warehouse count for Menlo in South Asia to 35, and the total space under
Menlo management to 392,000 sq. meters.
New Branding Initiative Supports Growth
Objectives
Also supporting the company's growth objectives
is a branding initiative designed to better present Menlo's
capabilities and value to the market. Under this initiative, which
followed nearly a year of research, the company in September
globally refined its brand as Menlo Logistics, launched a new
stand-alone website (www.menlologistics.com) and adopted a new
brand tag line, "Customer Innovation," which research showed more
accurately represented the value attribute ranked most highly and
often by Menlo's customers.
"The benefits of the rebranding are easily measurable," said Mr.
Bassett. "We were able to refine and quantify our core strengths,
and then present those solution capabilities to the market through
a new website and a revamped marketing and business development
program. We're already seeing results in terms of increased
prospects coming to us directly for solution proposals, and
expanded inquiries into our services from new and existing
clients," he added.
Singapore's Emergence as
Logistics Leader Remains the Foundation
"Singapore's emergence as a regional logistics
hub continues to provide the foundation for Menlo's growth in
South Asia," noted Desmond Chan, the company's South Asia managing director. "Singapore has established itself as a strong
regional hub as it is a time-tested and reliable center of gravity
for regional commerce." Mr. Chan added that the continued
development of Singapore's
world-class port facilities and the shift of the existing port
terminals to Tuas have the potential to generate even greater
efficiencies for freight transiting Singapore and the region.
"Several macro-economic trends also are benefiting the region,"
added Mr. Chan. "A growing population, increased affluence leading
to a rise in consumption, an improving infrastructure and the
development of new manufacturing capacity have also impacted the
logistics marketplace positively," he said. "Transparency of laws,
efficient and responsive Customs administration and an improving
local transportation infrastructure will remain Singapore's advantage, although the rest of
the region is catching up."
"Generally, all countries in ASEAN and India show promising signs of growth," added
Mr. Chan. "We currently have operations in five countries —
Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and Australia. We also focus on specialized
services for key industries, which presently include automotive,
high-tech, aerospace, consumer and industrial, and wine and
spirits. In 2015 we will be expanding these capabilities into
logistics solutions for health care and oil and gas development, as
well as additional support for automotive and industrial customers
in India and Thailand."
New Vertical Industries, Refined Lean Capabilities on the
Roadmap
Menlo has a well-defined plan for moving forward in
South Asia, including expanding
into new vertical industries, refining its capabilities for current
industries, and deploying its Lean efficiency and continuous
improvement programs more deeply into the solutions it devises for
customers.
"Customers expect competency in managing warehouses,
transportation and distribution operations from their 3PLs," said
Mr. Chan. "Where Menlo differentiates is in providing these highly
developed competencies along with proven skill using Lean
methodologies to drive out waste and strive for continuous
improvement, year after year. The process and practice innovations
we develop with our Lean expertise is a recognized strength, and
one that we will continue to develop best practices for," he
concluded.
About Menlo Logistics
Menlo Logistics, LLC, is
a US$1.5 billion global provider of
logistics, transportation management and supply chain services with
operations in five continents, including North America. As a third-party logistics
provider, San Francisco,
California-based Menlo Logistics' services range from
dedicated contract logistics to warehouse and distribution
management, transportation management, supply chain reengineering
and other value-added services including packaging, kitting, order
fulfillment and light assembly through a strategic network of
multi-client and dedicated facilities.
With nearly 20 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space
in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin
America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Logistics
creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and
distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.
Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE:
CNW), a $5.5 billion diversified
freight transportation and logistics company.
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SOURCE Menlo Logistics