Peaceful and Perfectly Located, Provence’s Small Business Parks are Becoming Increasingly Popular

Rave reviews from companies that have opted for one of the smaller Provençal business parks

It’s not surprising to learn more and more companies are setting up in a newly-developed business park in a green setting that is accessible even during rush hour and is close to highways, the Aix TGV high-speed train station, the port, and the Marseille-Provence airport. Thanks to these advantages, the ZAC des Vergeras business park in the commune of Saint-Estève de Janson is already near capacity and has recently welcomed companies such as Behringer, Accofits, and Saponessence, which have all been supported by Provence Promotion. These SMEs are delighted with the quality of working life in this peaceful business park that is built on a human scale.

In Provence, small-scale business parks are attracting more and more companies in search of a better quality of life for their employees. One great example of this is the six-hectare ZAC des Vergaras business zone, which is close to Pertuis and Aix-en-Provence and is already almost full, with 15 of 18 lots sold.

“We ship our goods from the Port of Marseille-Fos and regularly travel to our Reunion-based subsidiary directly from the Marseille airport. The business park is perfectly located and it also benefits from the presence of a small day-care center,” explains Véronique Verna, the President of Saponessence.

The company, which applies the age-old technique of cold saponification to create fragrances and soaps, is moving from its Biot workshops to its new Vergeras space in January 2025. “We purchased a lot in 2023 and built a 1200-square-meter building that includes offices, a production facility, and a storage area for our customers,” says Véronique Verna, whose company received support from Provence Promotion for recruitment.

Provence Promotion also connected Saponessence with the Innov’Alliance cluster for natural living products, which enabled the company to benefit from an IT system audit. Saponessence markets perfumes, soaps, massage products, and scented candles while offering white-label production and assistance in setting up production facilities.

The Aix-en-Provence area offers quality of life and quality of work

Like Saponessence, other companies are finding the ZAC des Vergeras business park an ideal balance between a great working environment and an ideal quality of life. Behringer France, the French subsidiary of the Italian company Sol, specializes in the production of gas expansion and regulation equipment for all sectors of activity. It left Hauts-de-France in the north of the country in 2021 for the milder climate of Provence. “We chose to locate to the South of France both for the quality of life and to be closer to Italy,” says Arnaud Cartier, the Managing Director of Behringer France. A new resident of Lourmarin, he is now working in this recently developed business zone in Saint-Estève de Janson. Provence Promotion provided Behringer France with insights into the real estate market for business parks in the Aix-Marseille-Provence area.

The ZAC des Vergeras business park, peaceful but connected

“Our offices overlook the Mourre Nègre hill in the Luberon massif. Although we’re in the heart of the countryside, we’re not isolated: the area is served by buses from Pertuis and Aix-en-Provence. We are also connected to the A7 highway. What’s more, we benefit from excellent internet connectivity thanks to the fiber network, and the site is equipped with electric charging stations,” notes Arnaud Cartier.

Having invested €1.2 million in the business zone, Arnaud Cartier’s 700-square-meter HQE (high-quality environmental standard) building was designed by the architect Annabel Libert and delivered on October 17. Divided into three separate parts, it houses both offices and warehouses. “The second part will be used by Accofits, a small industrial components trading company run by my wife, while the third will be rented out,” adds Arnaud Cartier. The building, finished in metal cladding and wood, has solar panels to generate electricity, 20% of which is for self-consumption.

At a time when companies are seeking to combine economic performance with employee well-being, small business parks like The ZAC des Vergeras could well become the model to follow!