Our History
International
E&C Charcoal started exporting lumpwood Charcoal to Europe in 1976 – initially to the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands. The exports were for both the industrial and leisure (barbequing, or as we call it "braaing") markets. Industries use lumpwood charcoal to manufacture activated charcoal, and for smelting. The leisure sector has two components (1) Restaurants and (2) Supermarkets for barbeque.
In each European countries we export to, we have established charcoal importers who attend to the logistics, warehousing and distribution.
E&C Charcoal currently exports both lumpwood charcoal and charcoal briquettes to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belguim, Switzerland and France, as well as across the channel in the United Kingdom. We also have markets in the Mediterranean countries of Greece and Isreal.
Industry and restaurants mainly use lumpwood charcoal whereas the barbeque market uses half lumpwood charcoal and half charcoal briquettes – consumers having individual preferences.
The well established relationships in the above European countries give E&C Charcoal substantial market diversity. The exported charcoal is a finished product; packaged and palletised for display and sale in retailers. Other than distribution costs, there are no further expenses incurred in Europe.