European ostrich options expand as SCOT changes agents
15/12/2011
An agreement with the company France Croco and its affiliates covering the French and Italian market ended on December 7. Orders acquired through the former agent will be honoured, SCOT has said, but new orders will go through its new agent for France and Italy, Milan-based Italhide.
SCOT has clients in more than 20 countries and is a subsidiary of the Mosstrich Group, an organisation set up by a collective of ostrich farmers in the South Cape region to process and sell ostrich meat. It is a vertically integrated organisation, with the tannery co-located with the Mosstrich slaughterhouse and packing plant. It earned a highly commended award for Africa in the inaugural Tannery of the Year programme in 2010.
Frik Kriek, SCOT's marketing director, said on making the announcement: "As Italy is still the leader in leathergoods and footwear manufacturing in Europe, the change in representation will ensure improved market coverage and a broadening of the client base in Italy. This co-operation will make a valuable contribution to the distribution of SCOT ostrich leather in Europe as Italhide has its own leather finishing plant based in northern Italy.This will enable SCOT to expand its sales activities in respect of business opportunities requiring shorter lead times, allowing the company to meet the constant changes in the European fashion markets."
He pointed out that Italhide will also provide full assistance and service to French customers through its direct visits and the co-operation of its representative in France, Lyon-based Maison Fichet, which also has an office and warehouse in Paris. "The company is well established in France as a representative of several Italian tanners and with the inclusion of ostrich leather in its product line will expand its involvement in the exotic leather market," Mr Kriek said.
South Africa's ostrich industry is being severely hampered at the moment by an outbreak of avian influenza. "This will have a long-term impact on ostrich farming operations," Frik Kriek said. "The Mosstrich Group is confident that with its current operational and financial structuring, it is well positioned to deal with this situation."
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