Warehousing & Distribution Holding Company (Wared) has started operations in Jeddah to deliver customised and high-capacity transportation services across the Middle East and North Africa.

The joint venture by Zahid Holding Group and Construction Products Holding Company (CPC) brings unparalleled market experience and expertise to the transportation business, according to a statement.

The partners, through their separate subsidiaries Zahid Heanor and United Transport Company Limited (UTC), are already reputed for meticulous and customised transportation and logistics services.

'With 30 years' experience in this field we have a broad knowledge of the market requirements as well as the high capacity to meet these needs in the best ways,' said Marwan Alfadl, director, Business Development at Zahid Holding Group.

Alfadl, who is a member of the board of directors of Wared added, “Wared will use the latest technologies to expand in the Middle East and North Africa.”

“Wared was formed after a thorough study of the Saudi and regional markets where companies need high expertise and professionalism to facilitate their businesses, including the provision of modern transport equipment for carrying heavyweight or over-length cargos,” added Dr Faysal Alaquil, director, Business Development of CPC, and the official spokesman.

'In the last few years, we successfully provided logistics and transportation services to large construction projects in Saudi Arabia, in particular the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) project.”

'Wared will provide comprehensive contractual solutions that enable clients to work accurately within the limits of their business assessments and cash flow expectations,' said Brian McHale, chief of the joint venture.

'We currently have distribution centers in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, namely Jeddah, Medina, Yanbu, Abha and Tabuk on the west coast, Riyadh, Qassim and Hail in the central province, and Dammam, Hofuf and Jubail in the eastern province,' said McHale.

'Also we are about to finalise the design of the first two warehouses in Jeddah and Riyadh, each of about 40,000 square meters,” he added.

In the Arab region, Wared has an integrated branch office complete with warehouses and trucks in the industrial zone in Damascus, and a distribution branch in Jebel Ali in Dubai.

'Work is going on to establish offices, warehouses and a transport center in Egypt in the city of the 6th of October,' McHale informed reporters during the press conference.

'The expansion plan includes, in the short term, the opening of branches in Abu Dhabi, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria. The mid-term goal is to expand across the Arab countries to the far west, to South Africa, and eastward to Asia.'

Wared’s major area of business is import, transport, distribution, logistics solutions and shipping containers. The company has about 500 heavy, medium and light trucks. It also has heavy trucks to haul heavy equipment of up to 45 meters in length and weighing up to 200 tons – including giant cranes.

The company is presently negotiating with a major international company specialised in storage and distribution of frozen foods, for the establishment and management of refrigerated warehouses in the Middle East.

Wared's operations are also 'green' with its use of low-emission, environment friendly trucks. Additionally, the company uses analytical software to choose the shortest and quickest routes. Its drivers are trained to drive cleverly in order to save fuel and reduce air pollution, putting off the engine during waiting times as well as driving cautiously and safely to prevent loss of lives and property. Besides, the company uses electric forklifts for all its warehouse operations.

The company's 'green' concerns extend f