France’s Geodis has begun operating a multimodal logistics service for skincare products specialist Naos, combining rail and road options. Goods are collected in Neuville-en-Ferrain, in northern France, then transported over a distance of around 45 kilometres by truck to the multimodal freight platform in Dourges.
From there, they travel by train to Avignon, before final delivery by truck to the Naos’ logistics warehouse located in Port Saint Louis, in the south of France. Representing nearly 300 full truckloads per year, the shipments, previously handled exclusively by road, now benefit from the decarbonising effects of a multimodal solution, SNCF-owned Geodis noted.
Sustainable supply chain
“Geodis’ ambition is to support the transformation of Naos’ logistics master plan, both in Europe and around the globe. Together, we are developing innovative and responsible solutions, especially for new distribution projects, to build a supply chain that is ever more efficient and environmentally friendly,” Marc Vollet, managing director of Geodis’ European Road Network commented.
Geodis uses secured containers for the full duration of the ‘combi’ service and assigns dedicated drivers for both pickup and delivery operations. This approach ensures a high level of confidentiality and operational control, suited to the demands of the cosmetics sector, it noted.
The deployment of what Geodis describes as “innovative, low-carbon land transport solutions”, is only one of a number of logistics-related services which Geodis currently provides to Naos. They includes centralised maritime transport for its group brands (Bioderma, Institut Esthederm, Etat Pur); international warehouse management; and expertise in customs issues.
Domestic and international train network
As well as being a major provider of road haulage, Geodis has approximately 120 trains in circulation every week operating across France and Europe. Domestic routes include Lille/Dourges-Avignon and Metz-Hendaye, each with five round trips weekly. Geodis also has a service dedicated to liquid bulk chemicals traffic operating several times weekly between Lavera, near Marseille to Puyoo, in south-west France, where Geodis has a ‘combi’ rail-road terminal.
On international routes, Geodis has a number of trains running between Łódź, in Poland and Baltic Sea ports, transporting maritime traffic for import and export; a daily service between Noisy-le-Sec, in the Paris region and Novara, in Italy; as well as a number round trips weekly between Łódź and Piacenza, also in Italy.
