Gapuma’s First Aiders Keep Their Skills Sharp
31 July 2026 Yannick Annor, Assistant Manager – Supply Chain, and Vaibhav Raj Thakkar, Procurement Consultant, have both completed a first aid refresher course with St John Ambulance. Both are also qualified Fire Marshals, adding a further layer of preparedness to the Gapuma team. Yannick reflected on the experience: “Thanks St John Ambulance and the trainer for this excellent first aid refresher course. I first completed the training three years ago, so it was a great opportunity to refresh my knowledge and reinforce the skills I had already learned. While I’m not an expert, this course was a valuable reminder of such an important life skill. I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep my first aid knowledge up to date.” Their refresher follows Jing Zeng’s own qualification as a trained First Aider earlier this month – a reminder that this is not a one-off effort but a standard the whole team is holding itself to. It is a small but telling example of Gapuma’s continuing commitment to the health and safety of its own people, and of the wider community around it – a trained First Aider, after all, may be called upon at any moment, without warning, to help.
Gapuma Welcomes Its Newest First Aider
23 July 2026 Gapuma Group is pleased to confirm that Jing Zheng, Procurement Officer, has qualified as a trained First Aider following an intensive course at the St John Ambulance training centre in Ealing/Hammersmith [wasn’t sure please emend as required]. Jing becomes the latest member of the Gapuma team to take on this responsibility, joining Yannick Annor and Ash Unadkat as one of three designated First Aiders at the company’s West London head office. Yannick returns to the same course next week – in his case, a refresher, to ensure his knowledge stays current. In the video attached, Jing talks through three key things she took from the day’s training. Reflecting afterwards, she had a simple message for colleagues: eat and drink slowly, walk carefully, and stay alert to your surroundings – above all, take responsibility for your own safety. It speaks to something wider than one course or one qualification: Gapuma’s continuing commitment to the health and safety of its people, and of the community around it, since a trained First Aider may be called upon at any moment, without warning, to help. Below she describes her experiences…
Full Time: Gapuma World Cup Sweepstake has its champion
20 July 2026 Weeks of predictions, no small number of upsets and plenty of office bragging rights came down to a photo finish. After a stiff, closely fought competition, Neha put in a dominant display against determined resistance, but held her nerve to push over the line in extra time and defeat Ash for the top prize. Spain’s number one was solid throughout with barely a shot getting past her all tournament. A solid wall of certainty, right to the final whistle. Neha now holds the Gapuma Sweepstake title for the next four years. On current form, she’ll be expected to be lead her nation once again come the next World Cup – when the tournament heads to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and Neha, fittingly, takes up co-host duties too. Congratulations, Neha – a worthy champion. And to Ash, runner-up by the finest of margins: there’s always the next time, but not for FOUR YEARS.
Messing About on the River: Gapuma’s Hawaiian Hula Cruise
16th July 2026 There is a particular kind of English absurdity in dressing several dozen commodities and chemicals professionals in leis and grass skirts, loading them onto a pleasure craft, and setting off down the Thames – but absurdity, handled properly, is close cousin to joy, and Gapuma’s Group Summer Activity aboard the SS Hibernia delivered rather a lot of both. The cruise began in Henley-on-Thames and headed downriver, tracing the Henley Royal Regatta course past Medmenham Abbey – two of the straightest kilometres on the Thames, cut a century ago because nothing straighter could be found. A fortnight earlier this stretch had roared with crews and crowds; now the grandstands were half-dismantled, the towpath quiet, the whole apparatus of the Regatta being quietly folded away for another year. It made for a strange, pleasant melancholy – summer’s grandest fixture undressing itself in real time. Off Medmenham, the boat ran alongside a livelier piece of theatre: the Swan Uppers of the Crown, the Vintners and the Dyers, out in their skiffs for the Catch and the Marking. It is one of the more delightful oddities of English river life that only these three parties may lawfully own or mark a mute swan on open water – a privilege the Crown has held since the twelfth century, and one it extended to the two City livery companies in the reign of Edward IV, when a 1482 statute restricted swan-keeping to the properly landed and well-heeled. It was never quite a case of reserving the birds for the royal table alone; rather, a swan in the fifteenth century was less a bird than a title deed with feathers, and the Crown meant to keep it that way. The Hibernia then reversed upstream, back through Henley, through Marsh Lock, and on into the hushed reaches beyond, turning for home just short of Sonning. Here the afternoon found its rhythm: the Gapuma Piña Paradise – commissioned specially for the occasion – circulating freely, the DJ moving deftly between cruising classics and tunes anticipating England’s clash with Argentina that evening, and a dancefloor that showed no inclination to empty. Deepa delectable food ran alongside it all without ever missing a beat. Bingo had been running throughout the day as a gloriously baffling ongoing competition, joined later by a Know Your Bosses quiz that revealed rather more about the leadership team than perhaps intended. It closed, as these things should, with an awards ceremony of high theatre and higher scrutiny: Shilpa crowned best theme-dressed woman, Luka taking the male honours, Kasia declared Queen of the Hula, and our guest of honour Kojo Jones-Mensah confirmed as its King, to absolutely nobody’s surprise. By five o’clock, on a balmy, sun-soaked afternoon perfectly suited to cruising and messing about on the river, the Hibernia was back alongside at Henley – leis a little wilted, grass skirts a little worse for wear, and the whole party thoroughly reluctant to disembark.
The relief is real… The certainty is not
1st July 2026 For four months, the price of oil has told the story of a war few people expected and fewer still know how to end. Now, as June closes, that story appears to be turning: Brent has slipped to around $73 a barrel, its steepest monthly fall since the pandemic and its worst quarter in six years. Petrol stations, freight desks and finance directors across the trading world are, for the first time since February, allowed to exhale. But exhaling is not the same as trusting what comes next. The rally in supply behind this fall in price is genuine enough. Tankers are moving through the Strait of Hormuz again, sanction waivers have loosened Iranian barrels back into a starved market, and the diplomatic language out of Washington and Tehran has, briefly, softened. Yet scratch beneath the relief and the foundations look considerably less solid than the headline number suggests. The current arrangement holding the strait open is not a settlement; it is a temporary courtesy, with Iran having agreed to forgo transit fees for just sixty days and reserving the right to reinstate them the moment that window closes. A ceasefire with an expiry date is not peace. It is an interval. It is worth asking, too, who is actually behind the falling price, because the answer is not simply optimism. Much of this year’s most consistent buying came from trend-following hedge funds, the quiet, algorithm-driven money that piled into long oil positions as the conflict escalated in spring. That money is now heading for the exit, not because the war is over, but because the trade has stopped trending. What looks like the market voting for peace is, in no small part, funds voting to bank their profits before the next headline turns against them. This is a market that has grown fluent in front-running its own volatility. Even regulators have taken notice: several unusually well-timed bets against oil, placed in the minutes before key American statements on Iran this year, are now the subject of scrutiny. Ask a commodities desk how confident it feels and the honesty is telling. Callum Macpherson, head of commodities at Investec, described the situation bluntly as ultimately unsustainable, adding that markets are simply finding ways to muddle through, because the ordinary business of buying cargoes and hedging exposure cannot pause for a war to make up its mind. That, in a sentence, is the position every trading, logistics and distribution business now finds itself in. So can this easing be relied upon as the basis for forward strategy? Not yet, and arguably not for some time. A lower oil price today buys breathing room, not certainty. Freight contracts, insurance premiums and supplier terms still need to be built for a strait that could tighten again with a single statement out of Washington or Tehran. The prudent response is not to chase the rally down, but to hedge as though the ceasefire is what it has repeatedly proven itself to be this year: fragile, reversible and provisional. The deal may hold. History this year suggests we should not assume it will.
Gapuma SRB: From Strength to Strength
30 June 2026 As Serbia’s harvest season gets under way, our Serbian subsidiary, Gapuma SRB, is in the thick of one of its busiest periods of the year. Led by Managing Director Aron Mohacsi, the team in Žabalj, Vojvodina, continues to build on its grain trading and fertiliser distribution operations, serving the agricultural heartland of one of Europe’s most fertile regions. Beyond the fields, Gapuma SRB has also been deepening its ties with the UK’s diplomatic mission in Belgrade. We were honoured to sponsor His Majesty The King’s Birthday celebrations earlier this month, attending at the personal invitation of the British Ambassador, His Excellency Edward Ferguson – a reflection of the strong and growing relationship between Gapuma and the United Kingdom in Serbia. And there is more to come. The Serbia edition of the Gapuma Globe is published tomorrow, with an in-depth look at the country, its economy, and the people driving our work there. From the harvest to the diplomatic stage, Gapuma SRB goes from strength to strength.
Gapuma Group and Tri-Chem Trading Join Forces to Accelerate Growth in African Chemical Distribution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 June 2026 London / Johannesburg – 8am/9am Gapuma Group, the London-based multinational commodities company serving customers through its warehousing and distribution network, today announces a strategic partnership with Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd, a fast-growing South African importer, exporter, trader and distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals. Gapuma has acquired an equity stake in Tri-Chem, with the company’s founding leadership retaining its stake and continuing to lead the business. The announcement comes as both companies meet at the African Coatings Show in Sandton, Johannesburg, and reflects a shared ambition to bring greater value and opportunity to customers across South Africa and the wider continent. Tri-Chem Trading supplies commodity and specialty chemicals across mining, coatings, industrial, water treatment, manufacturing and agriculture. Its leadership brings 35 years of combined industry experience, with established supplier networks, long-term customer relationships and a reputation for commercial excellence. The business is built on reliable and cost-effective sourcing, strategic distribution and end-to-end supply chain support. Jack Bardakjian, Founder and CEO of Gapuma Group, said: “Tri-Chem has built something with real momentum: the right supplier relationships, the right customer base and a disciplined approach to a competitive market. Our role is not to change what works, but to give the team the sourcing depth, supply chain infrastructure and financial backing to grow faster and serve customers better. This is precisely the kind of partnership we look for in Africa.” Chris Arnison, Founder and Director, Tri-Chem Trading, said: “Joining forces with Gapuma strengthens everything we set out to build. Their international supply agreements, manufacturing networks and market intelligence complement our knowledge of the South African and African markets. Together we can secure more competitive supply, expand sustainably across the continent and bring greater value and opportunity to our clients.” The partnership strengthens Tri-Chem’s financial stability and growth capacity, enhances its access to competitive international supply agreements and local and global manufacturing networks, and supports sustainable expansion across African markets. Gapuma brings to the partnership its global sourcing network, spanning more than 50 countries, and its established expertise in procurement, logistics and supplier development across Africa, Asia and Europe. Current management and staff remain fully in place. Day-to-day operations continue under the same leadership, with planned growth in commercial and technical capabilities to follow. About Gapuma Group Founded in London in 1999, Gapuma Group is an award-winning sourcing, procurement and logistics specialist with global reach. The Group sources products from more than 30 countries and delivers to over 50 countries worldwide, with particular depth of experience across Africa. Operating from its London headquarters, Gapuma serves clients across multiple sectors, including industrial, chemical, agricultural and energy, managing every link in the global supply chain from procurement and finance to logistics and final delivery. www.gapuma.com About Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd is a South African-based importer, exporter, trader and distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals, serving South Africa and the broader African market. The company focuses on reliable and cost-effective sourcing, strategic distribution, end-to-end supply chain support and long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. It serves the mining, coatings, industrial, water treatment, manufacturing and agriculture sectors, with leadership drawing on 35 years of combined industry experience. www.trichemtrading.co.za For media enquiries: Gapuma Group Limited – shahab@gapuma.com Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd – stefan@trichem.co.za
Gapuma Invests in Tri-Chem Trading: Backing Momentum in African Chemical Distribution
Some partnerships are about scale. The best ones are about momentum 26 June 2026 Today we’re delighted to announce that Gapuma Group has acquired an equity stake in Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd, a fast-growing South African importer, exporter, trader and distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals serving South Africa and the wider African market. Tri-Chem’s founding leadership stays at the helm, bringing 35 years of combined industry experience, established supplier networks and a hard-won reputation for commercial excellence across mining, coatings, industrial, water treatment, manufacturing and agriculture. Our role is simple: not to change what already works, but to add the sourcing depth, supply chain infrastructure and financial backing that let the team grow faster and serve customers better. It’s exactly the kind of partnership we look for on the African continent. The timing is fitting. We’re announcing as both teams came together at Coatings for Africa (24–26 June) in Sandton, Johannesburg, with a shared ambition to bring greater value and opportunity to clients across the region. Welcome to the journey, Tri-Chem. There’s real energy in this one. Full announcement and joint statement attached here.
Gapuma Group Acquires Equity Stake in Tri-Chem Trading, an Emerging Force in South African Chemical Distribution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 June 2026 London / Johannesburg, South Africa – 26 June 2026 Gapuma Group, the London-based multinational commodities company serving customers through its warehousing and distribution network, today announces the acquisition of an equity stake in Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd, a fast-growing South African importer, exporter, trader and distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals. Tri-Chem’s founding leadership retains its stake and continues to run the business. The partnership extends Gapuma’s strategy of building durable, operational businesses across the African continent, and brings the Group’s global sourcing and supply chain infrastructure to one of the region’s most dynamic chemical distribution markets. Tri-Chem Trading serves South Africa and the broader African market, supplying commodity and specialty chemicals across mining, coatings, industrial, water treatment, manufacturing and agriculture. Its leadership brings 35 years of combined industry experience, with established supplier networks, long-term customer relationships and a reputation for commercial excellence. The business is built on reliable and cost-effective sourcing, strategic distribution and end-to-end supply chain support. Jack Bardakjian, Founder and CEO of Gapuma Group, said: “Tri-Chem has built something with real momentum: the right supplier relationships, the right customer base and a clear, disciplined approach to a competitive market. Our role is not to change what works, but to give the team the sourcing depth, supply chain infrastructure and financial backing to grow faster and serve customers better. This is precisely the kind of partnership we look for in Africa.” Chris Arnison, Founder and Director of Tri-Chem Trading, said: “This partnership strengthens everything we set out to build. Gapuma’s international supply agreements, manufacturing networks and market intelligence complement our knowledge of the South African and African markets. Together we can secure more competitive supply, expand sustainably across the continent and bring greater value and opportunity to our clients.” The investment strengthens Tri-Chem’s financial stability and growth capacity, enhances its access to competitive international supply agreements, and supports sustainable expansion across African markets. Gapuma brings to the partnership its global sourcing network, spanning more than 50 countries, and its established expertise in procurement, logistics and supplier development across Africa, Asia and Europe. Current management and staff remain fully in place. Day-to-day operations continue under the same leadership, with planned growth in commercial and technical capabilities to follow. About Gapuma Group Founded in London in 1999, Gapuma Group is an award-winning sourcing, procurement and logistics specialist with global reach. The Group sources products from more than 30 countries and delivers to over 50 countries worldwide, with particular depth of experience across Africa. Operating from its London headquarters, Gapuma serves clients across multiple sectors, including industrial, chemical, agricultural and energy, managing every link in the global supply chain from procurement and finance to logistics and final delivery. www.gapuma.com About Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd Tri-Chem Trading (Pty) Ltd is a South African-based importer, exporter, trader and distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals, serving South Africa and the broader African market. The company focuses on reliable and cost-effective sourcing, strategic distribution, end-to-end supply chain support and long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. It serves the mining, coatings, industrial, water treatment, manufacturing and agriculture sectors, with leadership drawing on 35 years of combined industry experience. www.trichemtrading.co.za For media enquiries: Gapuma Group Limited – shahab@gapuma.com
Coatings For Africa 2026: Gapuma Returns to Johannesburg
24 June 2026 The doors are open. Coatings For Africa 2026 begins today at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, and Gapuma Group is here, on the floor, exhibiting for a second time at Southern Africa’s largest gathering of the coatings industry. Held in association with the South African Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA), the event runs from today, 24 June, through to 26 June, bringing together more than 150 exhibiting brands from over 15 countries. For three days it becomes the place where the industry does business: manufacturers, raw material suppliers, distributors, buyers and technical specialists such as chemists and formulators, all under one roof, meeting face to face. We are here in force. Our delegation is led by Group Managing Director Jack Bardakjian and Operations Director Stephen Harris, alongside our full South Africa team, including Gary Hayes and Dave Steward. Their presence reflects the importance we place on this market and on the relationships that underpin our work across the region. The timing could not be sharper. Southern Africa’s paint and coatings market, valued at around USD 770 million, is forecast to grow steadily through 2031, driven by construction activity, infrastructure investment and rising demand for more sustainable coating technologies. Running alongside the exhibition, ChemTalks opens today too, with a focused programme spanning regulation, formulation and the latest technical innovation. For everyone working within coatings, this is the moment to gather insight, exchange ideas with industry leaders, explore new opportunities and forge stronger relationships across the region. We are on the floor now. If you are here in Johannesburg, come and find us.
A Toast to UK–Serbia Friendship: Gapuma at the King’s Birthday Party in Belgrade
19 June 2026 Gapuma Group is proud to have sponsored the King’s Birthday Party hosted by the British Embassy in Belgrade – a splendid garden reception bringing together figures from across government, business and the diplomatic community to celebrate the warm and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Serbia. It was a privilege to support the evening alongside a distinguished group of fellow sponsors, among them AstraZeneca, Range Rover, Chivas Regal, Frikom, Harrisons, Menzies Aviation and Delta DMD, the leading Serbian distributor of fast-moving consumer goods. Good company, in every sense. The evening offered a welcome reminder that trade and diplomacy move in step. Serbia continues to position itself as a dynamic hub at the crossroads of Central and South-Eastern Europe, and the United Kingdom remains a natural partner in that ambition – in commerce, in investment and in the exchange of ideas that underpins any lasting relationship between two nations. As a commodities trading company with a genuinely international footprint, Gapuma has long understood that strong bilateral ties are not an abstraction. They are built reception by reception, conversation by conversation, and partnership by partnership. Jack Bardakjian, Group Managing Director of Gapuma Group, said: “Gapuma takes great pride in being associated with the promotion and strengthening of bilateral ties between the United Kingdom and Serbia. Relationships of this kind open doors – for business, for communities and for the next generation of partnerships – and we are delighted to lend our support to an occasion that celebrates everything the two countries can achieve together.” Our thanks go to His Majesty’s Ambassador, Edward Ferguson, and the embassy team for their warm hospitality, and to everyone who joined us in raising a glass to a partnership with a long future ahead. See a video of the festivities here