A Local Hero in India – 125 Years of Experience in a Dynamic Market

Jeena & Company, headquartered in Mumbai, has an impressive history. The family-owned business has been in operation for 125 years and is now run by the fourth generation of the family. The company has 27 locations in India and a global network of partners. It offers comprehensive logistics solutions for exports and imports. This makes Jeena & Company the perfect partner for SupplyX and our European customers.

Sam N. Katgara: The Otto Group is one of our longest-standing partners. We are now in the 41st year of our partnership. While we also have long-standing relationships with other partners in various countries – some dating back as far as 35 years – I would say that our partnership with SupplyX is something special in terms of its quality and consistency.

Sam N. Katgara: We are a highly reliable, well-established, and fully compliant freight forwarder and customs broker. Furthermore, we are now one of the last remaining independent companies of our size in India.

Most of our local competitors have been acquired by multinational corporations or are no longer active in the market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These characteristics make us what SupplyX calls a Local Hero. In India, we are likely among the last companies of this size.

Sam N. Katgara: Our business with the Otto Group and India began in the mid-1980s and was of relatively minor importance at first. Over time, we were able to make sourcing in India significantly easier for the Otto Group. We offer reliable service and provide transparent, accurate information. Our partners always knew exactly where their goods were and when they would reach their destination.

Precisely because India is not an easy market to navigate in a global context, this reliability has played a key role in strengthening SupplyX’s confidence in the Indian procurement market. Building on this foundation, our partnership has continued to grow, and today the Otto Group is one of our most important customers and strategic partners.

As a locally based freight forwarder with many years of market experience, we have an in-depth understanding of the Indian logistics landscape. We have specifically applied this knowledge to the development of our own systems, as no off-the-shelf solution met the specific requirements of the Indian market. Our systems are individually tailored to local conditions. They take into account customs processes, port and airport infrastructure, and collaboration with airlines, shipping lines, and transportation companies. This enables us to provide our international partners with real-time information, which in turn gives them the foundation for delivering a reliable and transparent service to their own customers.

Sam N. Katgara: In any partnership, transparency is the key to trust. Together with SupplyX, we have built precisely this foundation of trust over many years with regard to service, rates, and margins. On this basis, we have been able to continuously grow our business and successfully hold our own despite intense competition. This trust is the essential contribution we make.

Even though it may sound unusual, there is still often a degree of reluctance toward Indian companies. We are actively working to change this perception and show that there are indeed reliable and trustworthy partners – just like us.

Sam N. Katgara: There is practically never a day when you can walk into the office and say, “Today is going to be a quiet day at work in India.” There is always something going on, and new challenges are constantly cropping up. Somewhere, there is a strike, a flood, a famine, or a heat wave. Since we operate nationwide, there is always a situation somewhere that needs to be resolved on short notice.

Sam N. Katgara: A key factor is our team, which is characterized by a high level of dedication and flexibility. The willingness to go the extra mile is firmly rooted in our corporate culture. We continuously adapt to new circumstances – for example, by switching to other locations in the event of strikes or backlogs at individual airports. The same applies to ports, where we can draw on multiple options.

If bottlenecks arise in air freight, we shift shipments to sea freight – for instance, via Dubai or Singapore – and organize onward transport from there. Additional challenges arise from delayed deliveries by suppliers. In such cases, we work through the night, obtain the necessary special permits, and ensure that the goods are still loaded on schedule. We no longer view these situations as exceptions – they have become part of our daily business.

Sam N. Katgara: We are currently in a very favorable position. While many countries around the world are facing economic difficulties, geopolitical tensions, and sanctions, India continues to grow dynamically. India is one of the few markets that is strongly positioned in both exports and imports. As a result, demand for logistics services remains stable.

Regardless of whether import or export activities grow more strongly, there will be a continuous need for our services. Overall, the market thus offers very good long-term prospects.

Mr. Katgara, thank you for speaking with us.