FFG Hillebrand: description of activities
FFG-Hillebrand (www.ffg-hil.com) are ultimately owned by JF Hillebrand Group AG (www.jfhillebrand.com), based in Mainz, Germany. The group’s sole focus is the management of the supply chain of the wine and spirits industry, from producer to importer and distributor. They act as a freight forwarder (i.e. non-asset owning). The group runs 40 offices in 23 countries and employs approx. 700 people.
FFG (originally Ferry Freighting Group) are the UK arm of this operation and were bought during the 90s. It uses a number of companies in the UK including a limited partnership; accounts are not easy to follow, but it seems that UK sales may be in excess of GBP 52 million (sales of the German parent are not available). Its head office is in West Thurrock, and the managing director is Thomas Yusef. Other offices are based in Dover and Oldham.
Services cover all of the major wine producing areas of the world (Europe, USA, South America, South Africa, Australia etc) together with services for the consumer areas (e.g. Far East). Movements are mainly seafreight including both FCL and LCL/consols plus 300 bulk steel tanks. Temperature control is vital because fluctuations in temperature rapidly spoil wine. The group ensures that cargoes are not mixed and that the wine is kept between carefully-defined temperatures. For this reason the movement of wine and spirits is deemed to be “specialist” (bulk spirits are classified as Hazchem).
The group operate bonded warehouses and provides/offers customs expertise together with insurance. It also has its own SCM software (“Axis”).
