Diplomat Distributors enters SA's FMCG market

The company is a privately owned, Cypriot registered group with a majority American shareholding.

It will initially distribute a Procter & Gamble product range which includes personal and health care, while it looks to enlarge its portfolio in other categories such as food and cosmetics through new business opportunities.

"Our objective is to move merchandise to the relevant markets expediently and efficiently. To achieve this, we employed 90 staff members and will increase this to 400 by the end of the year," said CEO Steve O'Hagan.

The family-owned company's head office and warehouse is located in Heriotdale, Johannesburg and it plans to expand throughout the country, and eventually into some of the SADC countries.

Diplomat SA said it supported the transformation process in SA and had allocated 25% of the shareholding within the new entity, to previously disadvantaged individuals, including Diplomat SA's future permanent staff members.

The company has also embarked on an external empowerment programme which includes the creation of an owner-driver scheme within the distribution arm of the business, and individually owned cash van operations.

O'Hagan said that the company was committed to making a difference in the communities in which it operates and has formed a relationship with Abraham Kriel Childcare.

"Diplomat will make an initial donation of R50 000 to the Emdeni Skills Development Centre in Soweto and intends on continuing to support and invest in the childcare organisation in the future," he noted.

The company's headquarters are based in the Middle East; it also has a daughter company in Georgia, Europe.