La Poste’s French express subsidiary Chronopost registered 8.6% growth in turnover in 2008 after adifficult year in 2007 and has launched a new express delivery solution for biological substances
in response to new regulatory requirements.Thanks to its industrial restructuring plan following the economic recession, Chronopost wasable to hike its turnover in one year by 8.6% to €637 million and also registered a 6.5% increasein shipment volumes, the French newspaper Les Echos reported.
“This surpasses our goal of a 6% increase. Since the overall growth of the sector settleddown between 2% and 3%, it is obvious that our dynamism is due to the increased market sharecompared to competitors,” claimed Christian Emery, Chronopost CEO. The result is remarkable sinceit follows a “horrible year” 2007, marked by an operational loss of €30 million. “In 2008, we havebalanced it again,” he said.
For 2009, however, it is no longer a question of targeting the 6% growth previously expectedas part of the plan 2008-2010. “Our business activity is likely to increase by 1% at best, andthat’s already not that bad in a market estimated to drop 5% in the first half year,” Emerycontinued. In this context, the stability of the first three months proves that “Chronopost ispursuing its goal of recapturing the market,” he added. Various innovations via internet or ChronoRelais service points located in 3,500 kiosks enhance this dynamic development.
Nevertheless, the company should adapt to the difficult economic environment. “We areactively working at reducing our cost structure”, Emery added. At the same time, Chronopost is inthe process of revising its complete IT structure. Everything should be completed by the end of2010 through an investment of €11 million, in addition to the €120 million destined for theindustrial reorganisation of the group within three years, Les Echos further reported. “We arelucky to be part of a company like La Poste which simplifies the financing of our investments,” theChronopost CEO concluded.
In line with its considerable growth, Chronopost has further extended its service range withthe new express delivery solution primarily targeting veterinarians and laboratories.
Since August 2007, French regulations concerning the transportation of biological productshave changed. From now on, it is no longer possible to send organic samples with a simple parcel.Shippers have to respect the ADR regulation (road transportation of dangerous goods) and pack theirsamples according to the instruction 6501. The shipper is in charge of choosing a suitablepackaging to be used for the transport of these materials.
Developed by Chronopost itself, this service allows veterinarians and small laboratories tosend their samples to the analyst laboratories via next-day delivery before 13.00 all over France.The samples can be deposited at more than 12,000 post offices within France.
“Chronopost is the first logistics provider that has suggested us a ready-for-use solutionwhile respecting the new regulations. This solution allows us to ship safely our organic specimenvia express, “commented Franch Guetta, Medical Director Laboratory Idexx, a global leader inveterinarian diagnostics. Idexx is the first customer to make use of Chronopost’s new service.
