ID Logistics recently inaugurated a 24,000m2 logistics platform, exclusively for the use of Conforama, at Valence dAgen (Tarn-et-Garonne, South-West France). It has been built by the British developer Gazeley and will allow Conforama to supply over thirty of its stores in Frances Greater South-West.
All systems are go at the Prouxet business park in Valence dAgen. ID Logistics has been put in charge of logistics for Conforama in South-West France (the Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrnes and Languedoc Roussillon Regions) and has now moved into its brand new 24,000m2 (260,000ft2) platform. Sustainable development was a key concern during the sites design (rainwater recovery system, solar water-heaters, dusk-sensitive lighting, green spaces etc.).
The platform has 24 loading and unloading bays and is divided into four units with a total storage capacity of 20,000 pallets. It will be filled with articles as varied as furniture, decorative items, small and large household appliances, light fittings, domestic equipment etc. in all, 800 references for 34 Conforama stores. As many as 12,000 large electrical appliances can be stored here at any one time.
The depot is managed using Infolog software, meaning that orders can be prepared with speech recognition technology. Every year, 1.2 million packages mostly large format will be prepared and dispatched to Conforama stores, a total of 90,000 m3 of merchandise, or 4,800 truckloads.
In order to keep full control of the considerable flows generated by Conforamas business, ID Logistics has set up an upstream and downstream traffic guidance unit. For upstream activities, it schedules and tracks the flow of containers, mostly from Asia and Eastern European countries, and also follows them after their transfer onto road transport. Downstream activities involve distribution to Conforama stores.
About fifty people work on the site. ID Logistics has prioritised the employment of local people: 75% of current personnel (forklift operators, order pickers etc.) live in the neighbouring areas.
This is the 31st site opened by ID Logistics in France (60 sites on worldwide level) and confirms the Groups specialisation in supply chain management. By managing not only the depot but also the upstream and downstream flows, ID Logistics is able to optimise the entire procurement chain for Conforama. Skilful use of the Warehouse Management and Transport Management Systems also helps keep project costs under tight control and reinforces flexibility
Conforama
Conforama, a member of the PPR Group, is the world Number Two for household furnishings and the leading furniture distributor in France. It trades in seven countries (France, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Croatia, Portugal and Switzerland), with a network of 245 stores, including 159 wholly-owned and 29 affiliated in France. This represents a total sales area of 970,000m2. With a global turnover of 3.31 billion Euros in 2007, almost 47% of which was generated in the furniture sector, Conforama employs 15,400 people around the world. In France, one household in three made a purchase from Conforama in 2007.
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