Neil McMaster, GAC Dubai’s General Manager for Contract Logistics, took to the stage twice at last week’s inaugural Logistics & Transport Awards: once, to accept the FMCG Logistics Provider of the Year accolade on behalf of the company; and again when he was named Supply Chain Manager of the Year.
The company award recognises GAC’s excellence and innovation in keeping up with growing demand for the fast moving consumer goods sector covering food & beverages, retail, e-commerce and more. It came just months after GAC Dubai clinched the FMCG Supply Chain of the Year Award for the second year running in the Logistics Middle East Awards, and a day after the GAC Group won the Transportation & Logistics accolade in The Maritime Standard Awards.
Neil’s strong organisational and problem-solving skills in managing the complex multi-streamed contract logistics and 3PL operations earned him the Supply Chain Manager of the Year title. Not only has he been the driving force behind the expansion of GAC’s services for the business and daily running of GAC Dubai’s contract logistics operations, he also played a leading role in the planning, construction and opening of the company’s newest facility – a purpose-built, 45,900 pallet position two-chamber temperature and humidity-controlled contract logistics facility at Dubai South.
In accepting the awards, Neil said neither would have been possible without the dedication of his incredible team, the support of the GAC Board and the trust from longstanding customers and partners.
Ronald Lichtenecker, Managing Director of GAC Dubai, added: “It is particularly fitting that we should celebrate this double success in the year that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of GAC’s opening of the first Distribution Centre in Dubai. That same pioneering spirit and commitment to operational excellence has marked the continuous growth and development in the field recognised by these latest awards.”
GAC has been a leader in FMCG supply chain management in the Middle East for a quarter of a century. Its flagship Distribution Centre has over 50,000sqm of warehousing space dedicated to food & beverage and other FMCG cargo and 1,800sqm of purpose-built food grade and general Value-Added Services (VAS) facilities. Its newest contract logistics facility, at Dubai South, is now operational and brings the company’s total capacity in the Emirate to more than 170,000 pallet positions serving local and regional customers.