In Fos, XP LOG manages 24,000 m2 of warehouses, right at the shores of the Mediterranean

First setting up in the South of France for this transport & logistics company

The logistics and transport service provider XP LOG has invested in a 260,000 ft2 logistics platform at Fos-Distriport. The structure, built by Virtuo Proprety, is located just half a mile from the container terminals of Fos-sur-Mer, a boon for manufacturers and merchants. Provence Promotion, which had assisted the Parisian developer with setting up 1.3 million ft2 in Provence, continues its collaboration with XP LOG.

Importing, exporting, unpacking, packing, distributing... XP LOG, a port logistics specialist and subsidiary of the French group Sealogis, opened its second national logistics warehouse in December 2021, after 18 months of construction and 6 million euros in investments. Choosing the location at Fos-sur-Mer with its proximity to container ships meets two goals: recruit new customers, including manufacturers, merchants and wholesalers, in the south, and offer a growth opportunity to its customers in Normandy.

Only 65,000 ft2 still available

"We are proposing a second gateway to the region. This project is the result of our meeting with the port and the Virtuo Proprety team. The strengths of Marseille are its reliability, which has been restored in the past few years, its connection to transoceanic lines and its easy access to the Mediterranean and Africa. We can support our customers as they pursue growth in Italy, Spain and the Rhone basin. Plus the time it takes for the goods to reach the dock has improved considerably!" enthuses Olivier Jean-Baptiste, CEO of XP LOG. No wonder the square footage is filling up fast.

"By the end of 2022, there will be less than 65,000 ft2 available," says the executive, who is counting on Provence Promotion to help him showcase the region's appeal and win over new customers.

One manufacturer alone, which does 60% of its business internationally, has just taken possession of more than 65,000 ft2. The facility opened for the storage of raw materials and exported finished products in the early days of spring and have gradually increased.

There is a 32,000 ft2 area adjacent to the building that allows for Eurofos and Seayard containers to be removed quickly and stored until they are unpacked or packed. "In Marseille, responsiveness and anticipation rule the day. Because the ships are huge, we sometimes receive up to 10 containers for a single customer. Not to mention the impact caused by the breakdowns in the global supply chain. As a logistics company, we are committed to minimizing these disruptions. And nothing beats a motivated staff to ensure responsiveness!" declares Olivier Jean-Baptiste, who has hired 10 people locally. The number of employees should triple in a few months. In 2021, XP LOG recorded total sales of 42 million euros, up 11%.