Minolta South Africa to distribute Konica Minolta brand in southern Africa
ISSUED BY: OGILVY PR
[Johannesburg, 19 August 2004] - Appointment expected to further entrench market share
Bidvest's Minolta South Africa will import and distribute Konica Minolta branded business technology products in southern Africa following the worldwide merger of the two brands.
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The appointment, which is effective from 1 April 2005, followed an extensive negotiation period between Japan-based Konica Minolta Business Technology Division and Minolta South Africa.
"Minolta South Africa has been contracted to sell Konica Minolta products exclusively in southern Africa because of its substantial existing infrastructure and proven track record in the successful distribution and marketing of Minolta products for the past 30 years," says Alan Griffith, managing director of Minolta South Africa.
Griffith says Minolta South Africa has achieved greater market share for Minolta products in SA than any other Minolta distributor in the world. Minolta South Africa has achieved a number one market share in the colour copier/printer market - the fastest growing sector in the industry - for three consecutive years, securing 35.1% of new unit placements in the most recent results. The company has also maintained its number two ranking in digital copiers for a number of years, with 20% of the market in this highly competitive sector.
Added to this, he says the company delivered its best results ever in the 12 months to end June 2004, reporting a 50% increase in operating profit.
Bidvest CEO Brian Joffe says since the acquisition of Minolta South Africa six years ago, the company has delivered fantastic results. The appointment of Minolta South Africa as distributor is testimony to the success of the company in SA. Minolta already makes a substantial contribution to the Bidvest Group, and this appointment will further entrench its leading position in the market.
Griffith attributes the company's success to its substantial infrastructure, the key personnel driving the products to market, and its early strategic investment in software support which has proved to be a competitive advantage in the digital world.
Minolta South Africa's distribution network currently comprises 14 branches and 42 dealerships that operate nationally and into southern Africa as far a field as Namibia, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique and Angola. "The appointment does not include an obligation to incorporate Konica dealers into the Minolta South Africa distribution network, but where Konica dealers express interest, we will consider proposals on a merit basis," says Griffith.
Although the exclusive rights are only effective from 1 April 2005, separate Konica or Minolta branded products are no longer being manufactured. "The new copiers, printers and fax products being launched to the market are already branded as Konica Minolta, and the benefits of the worldwide merger are evident in the enhanced performance of these products," says Griffith.
The worldwide merger and consequent changes in SA will have little impact on existing Minolta South Africa customers. "It's business as usual, but we are able to offer an enhanced product range that has benefited from the merging of technologies, increased research and development budgets and the other benefits one would expect from the merger of two leading manufacturers," he says.
Existing Minolta customers will continue to be serviced by Minolta South Africa's extensive after sales service capability, and existing Konica customers will continue to deal with the current
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