FMI International
FMI was founded in 1979 by Ernest DeSaye, then a fifty year old entrepreneur who enjoyed a successful career as an executive with a large air freight forwarder. With his prior experience and knowledge of the fashion industry, he recognized a need for garment-on-hanger transportation services. So he created a unique service for apparel importers, and offered unit pieced GOH transportation services for ocean and air shipments destined to the United States. This program afforded importers the ability to select multiple transportation alternatives, guaranteed costing and garment condition integrity. The program and concept was a huge success!
In 1985, the company expanded their operation and business model by offering warehousing, distribution and value added services to their import customers at a single facility in Carteret, NJ.
By the late 1980's, FMI expanded their supply chain services with the addition of our regional fleet of company owned tractors and trailers to provide container pick-up service at the NY/NJ piers, air cargo at JFK, loose cargo at container freight stations and domestic pick-up and delivery in the NY/NJ metro area.
The 1990's brought continued expansion of FMI's services by expanding warehouse, distribution and transload services to Miami, FL and Southern California. FMI's customers now had the ability to choose from multiple facilities in the nation's most popular gateways. This allowed them to select the most cost effective and efficient gateway for their imported goods. In addition, FMI responded to the growing demand for JIT (Just in Time) inventory arriving at JFK International Airport. FMI opened a marquis facility within minutes of the tarmac at JFK with round-the-clock operations and a full range of services for airports sweeps. FMI is among the largest independent air cargo operators providing next day delivery within a 650 mile radius of the airport.
In 1995, FMI's supply chain services growth continued by adding dedicated domestic line haul services with company-owned equipment for trans-continental service. This service offered customers the ability to deliver transload merchandise to their interior distribution centers or deliver direct-to-store. FMI made the investment to equip all of the trucks with Qual Comm communication devices, and fitted the trailers with Terion, a state-of-the-art asset management device for tracking and enhanced security.
In 2003, FMI partnered with KRG Capital Management, a Denver-based private equity investment company. This transaction allowed for additional capital and financial resources to continue the company's expansion.
Today, several of the FMI founders continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the company, and steer the company towards continued growth and success in the 21st century.
For more information, please visit www.fmiint.com