Geodis is strengthening its healthcare logistics business with the acquisition of Frenchpharmaceutical pre-wholesaler Pharmalog and has also picked up a new distribution contract in the
UK.Pharmalog, a pharmaceuticals logistics and distribution company based in Val de Reuil inNormandy, has 50,000 sqm of storage space, a workforce of 150 and annual revenue of €18million.
Geodis is already a key player in the French healthcare market following the acquisition ofexpress operator Ciblex in early 2010. Now re-branded as Geodis Ciblex, the company generates alarge proportion of its €155 million annual revenues from the healthcare sector.
In future, customers of Geodis and Pharmalog will be able to take advantage of a broaderdedicated offering that includes the specific expertise expected by the healthcare market.Specialist staff with an industrial culture in logistics and pharmaceuticals will be able to meetall requirements in terms of quality and regulatory compliance. Looking beyond logistics andtransport services, the new entity will carry out a full range of value-added operations: salesadministration, customer debt recovery, repackaging, management of free medical samples, etc.
Geodis said the future consolidated healthcare logistics business will have nine specialisedplatforms in France (warehouses, clean rooms, controlled temperature premises, etc.) located at theheart of pharmaceutical technology parks, and a workforce of almost 500 expert employees, including16 pharmacists.
In the long term, the organisation will be deployed Europe-wide, based on operations alreadycarried out for the health sector by Geodis Logistics in Benelux, Ireland and Italy. At the sametime, Pharmalog customers will gain access to all the dedicated services in logistics, distributionand international transport delivered by the Geodis Group to healthcare professionals.
Geodis said the move is part of its strategy to deliver a specialised offering tailored to eachof its markets. The aim is to bring customers a precise response to the specific issues facing eachbusiness sector.
CEO Jean-Louis Demeulenaere commented: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome the staff ofPharmalog who share the same values of high operating standards and customer satisfaction. This newvertical offering places Geodis among the top three players in healthcare logistics in France, aswell as opening broad new prospects in Europe. This organisation will bring real benefits forcustomers since it is a close fit with the services developed by the cross-cutting entity GeodisGlobal Solutions and the other divisions of the Geodis Group: Groupage & Express, ContractLogistics, Freight Management and Road.”
Meanwhile, in the UK, Geodis Calberson has gained a contract from growing UK distributorComputer 2000 for the storage of 600 pallets of pre-ordered IT products at its site at Magna Park,Leicestershire, in central England. Magna Park will act as an overflow for Computer 2000’s mainsite nearby at Lutterworth and orders will be picked and dispatched on a daily basis via the FortecDistribution Network. With more than 65 licensees across the UK, Fortec is one of the UK’s leadingpallet distribution networks and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Geodis Calberson.
Computer 2000 is part of Tech Data, a Fortune 500 top company that is pursuing growth andacquisitions in the UK as well as moving into the consumer electronics market. ConsequentlyComputer 2000 is looking to expand its logistics operation to meet the demands of increasing salesthroughout the UK. Nicholas Clifton Logistics Director, of Computer 2000, said: “We are alwayslooking for partners to improve and extend the service we offer to our customers, and we aredelighted to have Geodis Calberson working in partnership with us as we expand our operations inthe UK.”
Jamie Cuthbert, Managing Director of Geodis Calberson, added: “Computer 2000 is an award-winningcompany committed to excellence and we are delighted to be able to assist them in meeting theircustomers’ demands.”
