News Room

Adcock Ingram Critical Care Accelerates Owner-Driver Project - An Enterprise Development Initiative

Midrand, 08 September 2014 – A line-up of smartly dressed owner-drivers today received the keys to their vehicles and to their new businesses, at a handover ceremony at Adcock Ingram Critical Care, situated in Aeroton.  This is the latest phase in an innovative scheme to give promising candidates ownership of a business, while realising the company’s enterprise development objectives.

The owner-drivers are directors of their enterprise and owners of the vehicles, while usually employing two or three others in the business.  Adcock Ingram contracts to distribute their products through the owner-drivers, each of whom covers an allocated territory.  The company empowers the drivers through training in various standard operating procedures, new logistics technologies and business management skills, to ensure these new entrepreneurs get the best shot at business success.

Adcock Ingram Critical Care is a major supplier of life-saving medicines to hospitals and all the vehicles are branded with messages and images relating to the Critical Care mission and range of products. 

 “Due to the nature of the products produced by the Critical Care facility, distribution takes place directly from the Aeroton site,” explained Tobie Krige, head of the logistics division, who handed the keys to the proud owners.  “I am passionate about this programme and have seen how it changes the lives of the new business owners,” he said.

The launch of this Critical Care fleet of 17 vehicles augments an existing fleet of 25 vehicles, with owner-drivers already delivering the Adcock Ingram range of products from the main distribution point in Midrand, in Cape Town and Bloemfontein. 

Speaking at the launch, Meshack Matswi, one of the first-phase and now established owner-drivers, talked about his experiences and the value of being a director.  “This is a serious business and the opportunity to be a business owner and employer most certainly has its rewards.  I have been able to grant my youngest son his greatest wish and that is to train as a professional soccer player through the Brazilian Soccer School Academy.  Without this opportunity offered by Adcock Ingram, I would not have been in the financial position to do this,” said Matswi.

While handing over the keys, Krige emphasised the commitment of the participants.  “I am privileged to be here today to formalize this next phase of the owner-driver project.  We believe in adding value to life and are committed to helping combat unemployment. There is a great entrepreneurial spirit shared by our owner-drivers and it is amazing to see how much dedication and effort people can put into something when given the chance,” Krige concluded.

Notes to Editor:

Adcock Ingram Critical Care is a leading supplier of life-saving products across multiple categories. The portfolio includes intravenous solutions, renal dialysis systems and pharmaceuticals, transfusion systems for the collection and storage of blood, infusion systems and a developing range of wound-care and ostomy products.

For more information please contact:

Vicki St Quintin

Corporate Affairs Manager

082 4534367

011 6350171

vicki.stquintin@adcock.com