Global Protein Solutions (GPS), a United Kindom consultancy that has been appointed to market Botswana Meat Commission products is expected to assist the commission into being market driven and increase its foothold into other lucrative European Union markets. 

The company which started its work late December last year was engaged on a three year performance based contract.

“Since they were engaged as agents, they are paid on a commission basis. An average of two per cent depending on the market,” disclosed Dr Stephen Ghanie, BMC  Executive Manager  of Strategy and Planning.

According to Ghanie, the change in strategy was that the BMC should be more market focused, so in order to be market focused there are capabilities that we need to develop.

Capabilities to understand the markets very well, to understand the market segments l and the customers we are dealing with very well.

Previously in BMC we had a shortage of competencies internally to implement the market focused strategy.

So if you do not have something as strategic as that you have no option but to outsource, while maybe over time we can build something of our own.”
“GPS has come in to fill in the gap. They have a good understanding of the overseas market and the South African market.

They also have the resources that they have been able to employ at BMC in remodelling our operations,“ continued Ghanie.

In the long run BMC’s value chain is expected to be flexible operation which will be able to respond to customer requirements.

The team of experts are not only involved in marketing Botswana beef to Scandavenian countries but is also on the ground  hand holding BMC operatives in the processing area in presenting the right cuts and specifications wanted by the lucrative markets.

Meanwhile BMC Francistown plant was busy preparing for EU inspectors which were  expected  early this week.

The Plant Manager was optimistic they would surpass the requirements of their most lucrative market.

“BMC Francistown is an EU approved abattoir, the audit is very important, because without the EU market we can’t survive.

Mainly because the EU offers a lucrative market and also other markets like Russia use the approval by EU as a benchmark standard.

If we are approved by the European markets then it will be much easier to market ourselves to other countries,” said Bosiela Saudu, the Francistown branch plant Manager.