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Beers, Wines and Spirits

T
he beers, wines and spirits sector is on the
up after struggling for the last few years –

with the help the US dollar being stronger
than ever, according to Julian Munsamy from

South African-based SAI Duty Free.

The company, which is the only oficially
registered duty free ISSA member in South

Africa, has been operating for nine years. It was
founded by an entrepreneur with over 20 years

of knowledge and experience in the global duty
free ship chandling industry. With a specialist

knowledge of imports and exports it maintains a
proven track record for reliability with its ability to

stock and immediately supply products within the
greater Durban area.

As a wholesaler its warehouses are fully

stocked with bonded goods that cater to the
demand of its customers while still maintaining

competitive rates. It supplies goods to ship
chandlers, cruise liners and cargo ships.

Based in Durban in the heart of South Africa’s
busiest port in the Southern Hemisphere, SAI

Duty Free services some of the oldest and biggest
names in the duty free channel.

Julian Munsamy, Managing Director at the
company, said that while the beers, wines and

spirits sector has been struggling for the last

couple of years due to the economic crisis, it is
now starting to feel more stable. He puts the

industry’s recent growth largely down to the
strength of the US dollar. He said seafarers were

often constrained by their company’s budget – but
at the moment the strong currency means they are

getting more for their money.
He said: “Business has been very good in

terms of sales, it has been very busy for us. We
have been selling a lot of up market premium

products. Heineken has become a really popular
product for us, it has really come on in leaps and

bounds in 2015. Heineken is one of the more

expensive products and I think it has been growing
in popularity because of the strength of the US

dollar. People are getting much better value for
their money. At the moment there is 13 rand to

one US dollar. People are getting a lot more for
their money.

“About two years ago the beers, wines and
spirits sector was really struggling. Because of

the economic crisis around the world and the
recession there was a real ripple effect and it

really affected us. Business was slowing down for

the cruise ships and shipping companies so that
had a knock on effect on us. The companies didn’t

have the money to buy the stock so we weren’t
selling enough. But I would say in the last year it

has been stable and the sector is now on its way

The SHIP Supplier Issue 66 2015 29