Centurion Europe opens office in Middle East
Published: 4 July 2017 - Fiona Garcia
The Doncaster-based supplier of DIY, garden, housewares and safety products has taken a bold step to boost its export sales of its fast-growing Spectrum Industrial brand by opening a sales office and distribution centre in Sharjah.
Centurion manufactures all of the lines within the Spectrum range, including thousands of different safety signs and labels, at its 86,000sq ft South Yorkshire headquarters. The Sharjah distribution centre will serve as a hub for Spectrum’s activities in the UAE and surrounding territories, as well as providing a base from which to explore the African market opportunities, said the company.
Spectrum Industrial sales and marketing director Peter Stone explained: “With the vast amount of investment in onshore and offshore construction activities and the growing awareness of the need to ensure the necessary safety standards, we feel that the time is absolutely right for us to invest in the Middle East and we are working with a partner that provides a range of branded PPE equipment to an established customer base. The only way to approach a project like this is to have a local base and put stock on the ground in order to provide the service levels required.”
Centurion's Peter Stone (left) welcomes the appointment of Neeraj Kambisseri as sales and marketing manager in the new Middle East office
The company has further enforced its commitment to the venture by recruiting a locally-based sales and marketing manager Neeraj Kambisseri, who will spearhead the campaign.
Mr Stone said of the new appointment: “Neeraj lives with his family in Sharjah and has gained excellent market and product experience over the past few years. He has just completed a two-week training period with us in the UK and is now back in the UAE and raring to go.”
Centurion Europe managing director Paul Kantecki said he had been keen to get this project off the ground: “The launch of Spectrum Industrial (UAE) is an important part of the future growth plans for the company and once we have established a solid customer base we will be looking to invest further in the next phase of development with the long term aim of having a local manufacturing capability.”