Linfox Chair praises Amazon’s Australian supply chain

Peter Fox, Executive Chairman of Australian logistics giant Linfox, has applauded e-commerce company Amazon’s Australian entry strategy, branding its partnering with local logistics operators “really smart,” The Australian reports.
“I think [Amazon] have been really smart in terms of who they align with and who they compete with,” Fox told the newspaper.
He noted that Linfox has felt the arrival of Amazon, though it does not provide couriers services.
“Our volumes have picked up on the back of volume we do for Australia Post, because we are the intermodal provider at Australia Post,” he said, adding that he believes Amazon’s decision to set up a local presence was a good one. “Amazon have now got a much shorter supply chain to get deliveries,” he said. “Instead of being couriers in by an aircraft from America, they now have inventory in Australia and the consumer us getting delivery within 24 hours – before that, delivery would have taken three or four days.”
Fox also commented on Linfox’s recent senior appointments – the company announced earlier this week that Annette Carey would leave her position as Linfox Logistics CEO ANZ and take a place on the Board, as a non-executive director, succeeded by an internal hire, Mark Marurek.
“The best people inside our company are ones which we bring up from the rank and file and come up through management,” he said. “We just believe in training and educating our people.
“Unfortunately, some people leave and we end up training and educating the industry, but where we can hold on to the people and promote from within, that’s our favourite alternative in succession.”