••••
T RADE N E W S
Chantelle De Andrade
Service with a smile in Viljoenskroon
CHANTELLE DE ANDRADE
IS THE BUBBLY 32-YEAR
OLD GRAIN MAR-
KETING ADVISOR IN
VILJOENSKROON. THIS
GRAIN MARKETING ADVI-
SOR RENDERS SERVICE
WITH A BROAD SMILE.
AUBREY KRUGER
C
hantelle has been working
for Senwes since 2014 -
first in the Koppies area and for
the past year in Viljoenskroon.
HER JOB IN VILJOENSKROON
She says that her work has been
cut out for her. According to
Chantelle the Viljoenskroon pro-
ducers are well informed. “They
are not only well informed, but
also very challenging.” She says
that the producers like new con-
tracts and to be kept up to date
with the latest developments.
They are not narrow-minded
as far as business is concerned
and Chantelle has to come up
with innovative ideas to satisfy
them - “They keep me on my
toes,” Chantelle adds with a smile.
She also says that these producers
appreciate other marketing strate-
gies, while some farmers have their
own marketing strategies in place
and they do not deviate. She is of
the opinion that “the producers in
Viljoenskroon are very adaptable.”
As far as Chantelle’s obligations
28
towards her clients are concerned,
she really complies with her side
of the business transaction. “I keep
them updated with what happens
in the market. I obtain infor-
mation in any possible way, by
watching the State of the Nation
Address, keeping up to date of
what is happening in Chicago and
everything that has a direct impact
on the market.” Then she suggests
the type of contract which a client
should enter into, “particularly in
a year such as this year, where you
should have different strategies
to hedge your grain and realise
the best price, particularly when
Safex prices are low”. We also
take into account 5-year averages,
assist with the conclusion of new
contracts, check markets and
weather patterns in the morning
and in the afternoon her diary is
full of appointments to visit the
more than 100 producers on their
farms.
Her area is quite extensive and
runs from Groenebloem Silo to
the other side of Vierfontein Silo
near Bothaville. After only a year
in this area she has already visited
all her producers and they have
visited her a number of times in
her office. To top it all, she is also
involved with the Manna Study
Group and the Groenebloem
Farmers Union in the area.
MORE ABOUT CHANTELLE
This Welkom-born woman
attended school at Naudéville
Primary School and Goudveld
High School, where she matricu-
lated in 2002. Chantelle has five
APRIL/MAY 2017 • SENWES Scenario
children, namely twins Nickola
and Joshua (10), followed by
Antonie (8), Ruben (4) and
Marco (3).
Her other passions, in addi-
tion to grain, are running and
horse-riding. She has been run-
ning since 2008 and has become
more serious about it over the
past two years. She ran the Two
Oceans Marathon twice - the half
marathon in 2014 and in May
2016 she finished the 56 km
ultra-marathon in 6 hours and 30
minutes. She also takes part in the
Western Mounted Games and a
number of horse-riding items keep
her on her toes.
If you like talking and excellent
service, Chantelle is the right grain
marketing advisor for you!