Thebe Unico wins Toyota award

Thebe Unico has won its first supplier award from Toyota. The company has won the Achievement Award in the Parts and Accessory category for outstanding service and support to Toyota.

“We are extremely proud of this achievement,” says James Alderslade, CEO of Thebe Unico. “Thebe Unico’s mission is to be the supplier of choice,” James adds, “and this award shows that we are providing world class customer service through quality products delivered to the customer’s expectations, on time, every time.”

Unico Manufacturing Company started out as a manufacturing / blending site and was situated in Johannesburg, manufacturing both Brake Fluids and Engine Coolants. Unico is currently located at the Island View complex on the harbour in Durban. This is a strategically well-positioned operation, with bulk product transfers being made directly from ship to shore into its own storage tanks.

Over the years Unico has developed into a ‘one-stop shop’ specialising in importation, blending, packaging, filling and supply of brake fluids, engine coolants and MEG in sub Saharan Africa. Thebe acquired Unico in November 2013 and as such this is the first award that Thebe Unico has won.

“We are delighted with this award as it is recognition of the business as Thebe Unico,” says James. With Toyota’s more than 250 suppliers, this is a prestigious award.

“We specifically supply engine coolants and brake fluids for the first fill, but also for the after sale. It is in this capacity that we were considered for the award. We bottle coolants and brake fluids in branded Toyota bottles and deliver to the distribution centres,” James explains.

Toyota is renowned for its stringent criteria when it comes to awards and this award is no exception. Suppliers are rated on quality, efficiency and timeous deliveries,measured on a monthly basis, and suppliers are expected to deliver on time within the quality and the specifications at least 98% of the time to be considered for the award.

Even though Thebe Unico has only been part of Thebe for the past five months, and has had to face many challenges with having to secure a new supplier of brake fluid and retaining customers by convincing them that the new product is of the same quality as the OEM approved brake fluids of the past, Thebe Unico is performing ahead of expectation. This award is an indication of its success and promise.