Diageo logistics director to lead discussion on 2012 challenges and priorities for Asia shippers

Diageo logistics director looking to dynamic and flexible supply chains to accommodate uncertainties for the year ahead Mark Holloway, Diageo APAC & GTME Customer Service & Logistics Director, to lead discussion on 2012 challenges and priorities for Asia shippers at TOC Container Supply Chain: Asia conference

HONG KONG & LONDON, FEBRUARY 20, 2012 - As shippers gather in Hong Kong this March 13-15 to meet with their logistics, shipping and transport providers at the TOC Container Supply Chain Asia conference, they will be looking to innovative solutions to stimulate growth in an increasingly challenging marketplace.

Key speakers at the 3-day conference and exhibition include Mark Holloway, APAC & GTME Customer Service & Logistics Director for Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business. “We need to focus on cost control to mitigate inflation and price volatility, while maintaining quality and a superior level of customer service across a large and diverse geography in Asia,” said Holloway.

Diageo trades in around 180 markets around the globe with a collection of world-leading alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. It is the leading international spirits company in Asia Pacific with over 30% market share and a business balanced between the established markets of Korea, Japan and Australia and the emerging markets of China, India, South East Asia and the Middle East.

“More and more of us are thinking of more dynamic and flexible supply chains to accommodate the uncertainties and to give us more options when the unforeseen happens,” said Holloway. “We will deliver innovative solutions as a way to stimulate growth, while maintaining a focus on the welfare of our staff and reducing the impact of our activities on the environment.” he added, “We will be looking for our service providers to focus on cost, quality, safety and partnership.”

This year’s TOC Container Supply Chain Asia conference and exhibition brings together shippers, logistics providers, ocean and landside transport providers, ports and terminals and other key players to explore challenges and responses for container trade and supply chains across Asia Pacific, and globally.

Leading companies now confirmed to participate include shippers such as Diageo, Levi Straus, Li & Fung, Philips Electronics and Ralph Lauren; 3PLs Agility and Panalpina; ocean carriers CMA CGM, MCC Transport, NYK and Hapag-Lloyd; port and terminal operators Modern Terminals Ltd, DP World, APM Terminals, London Gateway, COSCO Pacific, Pusan Newport, Patrick Container Terminals, Cai Lan International Container Terminal (CICT) and Port of Tanjung Pelapas; among many others.

The event kicks off on 12 March with a tour to Shekou Container Terminals and Quanhaiwan Free Trade Port Area. Hosted by China’s largest public port operator, China Merchants Holding

International, the tour will provide a first-hand view of the sophisticated infrastructure developed to support manufacturing activity in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), including container terminal, barge and distribution centre operations.

The conference opens early on 13 March with keynote addresses from Eva Cheng, Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing, Tommy Lui, Executive Vice President Hubbing & Freight Solutions for Li & Fung, and Mark McCalla, Partner – Infrastructure & Transportation Services at Accenture.

TOC Container Supply Chain: Asia 2012
13-15 March 2012
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center (HKCEC)
www.tocevents-asia.com