Kontena ventures into halal, cold-chain ops

Kontena Nasional Bhd, a unit of NCB Holdings Bhd, has expanded into halal and cold-chain logistics services to diversify its business beyond container haulage.
Chief executive officer Hood Osman said the expansion was mainly in fast-moving consumer goods as well as food and beverage sectors.
Hood said Kontena Nasional’s warehouse was the first to obtain the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) certification for the of storing halal products.
“We have also ventured into cold-chain logistics, initially with our Kontena Nasional distribution centre at Port Klang, which offers our first cold-room facilities,” he told StarBiz.
Hood said Kontena Nasional’s operations in Penang, Ipoh, Kuantan and Pandamaran had also been certified by Jakim for the storing of halal products.
“We have completed the full cycle of cold-chain logistics activities with a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gerimis Baiduri Sdn Bhd, a cold transport specialist.
“The tie-up will see both parties working on halal-hub supply chain, mainly in the transport and storage of frozen and chill industry, in the country,” he said.
Hood said the move was timely for Kontena Nasional to diversify its operations.
“Presently, the company transports live chickens from farms to processing plants as well as processed chicken meat to cold warehouses and direct to customers.
“It also provides halal logistics services for the import of meat using reefer containers, from port to cold warehouses, before distributing them using reefer box vans,” he said.
Hood said Kontena Nasional recently signed a MoU with seven agencies under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to provide total logistics solutions and cold-chain logistics.
“Meanwhile, our subsidiary Kontena Nasional Global Logistics Sdn Bhd has always been one of the main services providers for Defence Ministry. Business from the ministry is estimated at RM46mil,” he said.
Going forward, Hood said the company was in the final stages of revamping its operations and creating new revenue streams.
“Moving into its 40th year in the industry in 2011, Kontena Nasional is targeting a higher revenue with the creation and full implementation of new revenue streams.
“In addition, it plans to expand its activities in the transportation of dangerous goods and in warehouse management,” he said.
Kontena Nasional posted a pre-tax profit of RM1.4mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2010 against RM9.7mil in 2009.
Revenue stood at RM203.9mil compared with RM219.5mil previously.

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