GEODIS UK opens new routes to North Africa via Morocco and Tunisia

To provide door-to-door complete tracking and visibility, the goods will transit via Geodis depots and bonded warehouses in Casablanca, Tangier and Rades. This new line will initially be export based but will expand to include an import service in June 2006. The African services will dovetail with the existing fixed departure scheduled service operated by the Geodis Group in mainland Europe. “Demand from existing customers and our market research indicate that this market will develop and we are expecting business to increase significantly following the launch. We have specialist market development personnel originating from the North-African region, providing central sales contact and support for sales and marketing teams and our customers” enthused Nigel Watts, Road Product Director, Geodis UK.
Local Geodis teams will handle the shipments in North Africa and a dedicated Geodis UK contact person will manage booking shipment and transport requirements.
Geodis Morocco was founded in 2002 (a previous partner had been operating since1983) and has enjoyed strong growth in its core business of international air, sea and road transport as well as logistics. As a result, in 2004, the subsidiary opened two logistics platforms in Had Soualem and Ain Sebaâ, increasing its total operating surface area to 10,000m² plus 4,000m² of secure and guarded bonded warehousing. The expansion of the Textile, Automotive and Healthcare customer portfolio has triggered the recruitment of 65 new staff members, bringing the total workforce to 145.
"The Moroccan logistics business is certainly growing. Supporting the development of our customers is our top priority, as shown by the multi-year contract we signed recently with Unilever Maghreb," says Lionel Gruget, CEO of Geodis Morocco. Indeed, the subsidiary provides a variety of logistics services (pre-production transport, factory procurement, warehouse management) for Unilever's food, home care and personal care products. Geodis Morocco is considering the setting up of a domestic distribution service (groupage and full load) to enhance its product offering to Unilever and other logistics customers.
In North Africa, Geodis Tunisia is also a key growth business based in the main port of Rades, near Tunis with 2,500m² of bonded warehousing and 26 skilled and experienced staff. Geodis UK sees this as a key development and a vital conduit to the African Continent and its emerging markets. “This initiative is entirely in line with our 2006 business objectives and strategy.” says Jamie Cuthbert, Managing Director of Geodis UK.
Geodis in Africa provides Logistics, Road, Air and Sea Freight, Transit and Customs Operations, Industrial Projects and Port Handling and currently has 445 employees and 26,600 m² warehousing space. Geodis is operational in South Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Reunion Island, Senegal, Togo.

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Issued for and on behalf of Geodis UK Ltd
Contact: Armelle Iaquinta,
PO Box 92, Coronation Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP12 3TW, UK
Tel: +44 1494 768891 Fax: + 44 1494 533486
www.geodisuk.com
Email: armelle.iaquinta@geodis.com


About Geodis UK & Geodis Group. With over 500 staff, 14 strategic locations across the UK and Eire and more than 85,000m² of warehousing; Geodis UK is a major force in meeting the demands of the modern business community who require a transport and logistics partner. Geodis UK has immediate access to the Geodis Group’s 22,000 staff and an international network covering 120 countries, the Group is recognized as a top 5 European transport and logistics company. From global management, groupage and express parcels to logistics services, road transport and international freight forwarding, Geodis’ multi-business experience enables it to meet its customers' every need. In 2004, Geodis Group posted net sales of €3.371 billion. www.geodisuk.com