Blowing out 55 candles

It’s not every year that you get to blow out 55 candles. The third generation, now at the helm of the family business, looks to the future with confidence. At the same time, they are grateful for the solid foundation laid by previous generations.

This month, Levaco is celebrating its 55th anniversary. “To mark the occasion, we’ve ordered a specially decorated cake which we’ll be eating with the team at the office,” says Alycia Huysmans, Import Team Leader. “In January, we’ll be hosting a bigger party in our new recreation room to ring in the new year and celebrate this milestone with our partners.”

"The third generation is often seen as the problem generation," says Christopher Huysmans, Managing Director. "But we are proud of our history and determined to add at least another 55 years to it."

Strong foundations

“We owe our legacy to previous generations,” says Christopher. “Today, Levaco is a stable, well-known company with a good reputation. Every now and then, I still receive emails addressed to the original founder. We are fortunate to be able to rely on a broad network of trusted partners. This, in turn, gives our customers a sense of stability and confidence.”

Flexible and reliable

After all these years, Levaco has managed to retain its structure as an independent family business. “The fact that we are a family business is a major advantage, as it creates a bond with our customers, many of whom are also SMEs. Some customers have been working with us since Luc Huysmans took over the company in 2000,” says Christopher.

Levaco is a relatively small but stable company offering great flexibility and a personal service. As an AEO-certified company, customers are assured that both Levaco and its partners are reliable and financially stable. “We are known for our fast and efficient solutions. Our customers know that we take their business seriously and that we respond as quickly as possible. Both our agents and our customers know that they can always reach us, even at night or at the weekend, to send or request updates, quotations, status reports, and so on,” adds Christopher.

A different world

Over the past 55 years, the world of freight forwarding has undergone a dramatic transformation. The first containers were only introduced two years before Levaco was founded, so in the early years, bulk transport was still the norm. Back then, the chief steward on the quay had to note down the shipment’s destination, and the consignment note was still printed on paper. Now everything is done electronically. Email didn’t exist yet, let alone the software we rely on today. Automation is on the rise and will become the norm in the coming years. That is why Levaco is investing in new software, to be able to offer its customers the most efficient and up-to-date services.

In addition to the work itself, working conditions have also changed significantly. “We are investing more in building a personal bond with our team,” says Alycia. “We organise regular team-building activities, we send a personal birthday card and a unique end-of-year gift.” “We now also work with students and interns more often than before.

We invest in their training and regard them as part of the team. Many of our interns stay on with us after their placement or return after a few years,” says Alycia.

The biggest challenge

Covid-19 was one of the most challenging periods in the history of international shipping. Although there were many problems worldwide, we were fortunate to have dedicated staff who could work hard from home to keep business operations running as normally as possible.

Ambitions

“Now that international travel has picked up again, we want to invest more in our international network once more. We have been members of a number of these networks for years. The personal relationships we have with travel agents make it easier to resolve issues and serve our customers better,” says Christopher.

“I want Levaco to become a well-known company, both for its reliability and for its fun and pleasant office culture,” says Alycia. “As far as I’m concerned, I’d love to see Levaco double in size by the time I retire, but that’s still a long way off,” she says with a laugh.