MEAMARKETS / 2020MEA Business Awards 45 , Freight Forwarders of the Year - UAE Modern Freight Company LLC Based inDubai, Modern Freight Company LLC is one of theUAE’s early logistics pioneers, offering a diversified range of services to its global customer base. Having recently found success inMEABusiness Awards 2020, we caught upwith Laurance Langdon to find outmore about the business and how they earned the accolade Freight Forwarders of the Year –UAE. Since their inception in 1977, Modern Freight Company LLC (MFC) have built a stellar reputation from the very beginning with its personalised service in helping guide customers through the most challenging environments and delivering cargo and projects on time and within budget. Going into further detail, Laurance provides us with a brief overview of the firm, as well as offers more of an insight into its clientele. “MFC relocated its head office in 1994 to Jebel Ali Free Zone where we built our own 40,000m2 facility. With over 230 employees across multiple offices in the UAE and Qatar, we focus on providing end-to end logistics solutions which utilise our industry knowledge, long standing reputation, and our experienced personnel, ensuring that MFC becomes our customers trusted partner, saving them time and money. Over the 44-year history of MFC, we have seen financial crashes, booms and busts, regional conflicts, and instability, but through it all MFC has stood strong and remained vigilant.” In its attempts to distance itself from the crowd, the firm focus on providing the highest of standards and value as Laurance goes on to explain. “To remain an integral part of our customer’s journey, we aim to deliver a full portfolio of logistical solutions. Building long-term relationships, nurturing a culture of quality and creativity, and providing continuous training for our people has ultimately enabled us to help our customers grow, and in turn we grow with them. If someone is looking for a trusted partner to help them sleep at night and never have to worry about where their product and cargo is, then that is when you call MFC.” Regarding the internal culture in place, everything the firm has achieved in its time is because of the loyal service of its team members as Laurance explains further. “Here at MFC, we have a good mix of people including some who have been with us all their working lives, youngsters who bring new ideas and tricks, and other more widely experienced personnel who bring wide ranging cross company experience to the team. This mix provides a great balance ensuring that the MFC culture transforms without losing its history and identity, which is what has made us one of the longest standing freight forwarding partners in the Middle East.” As a medium-sized logistics company, MFC has managed to remain at the forefront of emerging developments and trends by investing in its own IT development as Laurance points out. “In today’s world, IT is at the centre of what we do and what the customers demand. Naturally then, by staying on top of key developments, we have been able to give our customers the tools to allow them to quickly access the information about their product and freight, which helps their business run smoothly and in a more profitable manner.” Nov20577 Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, the firm has still managed to thrive during these difficult and uncertain times thanks to its experience as Laurance explains further. “The Middle East has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, and it was very early on that MFC realised that change was coming. Traditional bricks and mortar retail was hit heavily, and stocks in warehouses stood still as everyone stopped going to malls and buying. It was at this time we quickly adapted to offer eCommerce solutions to our customers, signing specific partnership deals to provide a low cost and fast transition to the eCommerce marketplace. Many of our customers didn’t know how to benefit properly from eCommerce, and with MFC guiding them, they quickly established new revenue and data, which has turbo-charged their business on line and provided the basis for a completely new strategy. MFC has experienced it all, so we were well prepared to respond. Having been here for 44 years, we plan to be here for another 40+ more, and with that our customers know that MFC will be there at their side.” Bringing the interview to a close, Laurance signs off by discussing the firm’s approach to recruitment before outlining some of its plans for 2021 and beyond. “Ultimately, we want people who will add to our company and make it better than it was before. Every role is different, we need quiet people who bring attention to detail as well as people who are outgoing and full of ideas. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on our customers and their needs as we have done for the past 44 years. By helping them achieve growth, we will as well.” Company: Modern Freight Company LLC Contact: Laurance Langdon Email:
[email protected] Website: www.mfc.ae MFC managers and local dignitaries open the Jebel Ali facility in 1994