Sustained growth for some 10 years
Since its launch in 2015, Chronofresh has been foreseeing changes in French consumer habits, in particular the rise of e-commerce in the food segment. As a result, the company has been able to support players in the sector by offering them bespoke solutions that meet the increasing expectations of their customers while maintaining optimum food safety standards.
Changes in the food market have led to a major, lasting transformation of the sector's supply chain. To support this dynamic, Chronofresh has increased its capacity by opening two hubs specialising in temperature-controlled transport of food products in Chilly Mazarin (91: Essonne) and Corbas (69: Rhône) in 2023.
International expansion is also a key growth driver. Building on the success of Chronofresh in France, Geopost has developed similar services in the Benelux countries with DPD Fresh, in Italy with BRT Fresh and in Spain with Seur Frio, thereby making its European aims clear.
A response to the boom in meal kits
The meal kit market, which is worth around €44 million per year*, has been expanding significantly since 2020. Being convenient and suited to new consumer habits, these kits have become very popular with French consumers. Chronofresh ships packages for 4 major players in the meal kit market: HelloFresh, La Brigade de Véro, Quitoque and Seazon. By combining express delivery with adherence to food safety protocols, Chronofresh has enabled players in this market to offer their customers weekly delivery of fresh produce to cook with right across the country.
A solution that promotes short supply chains for the benefit of both private individuals and professionals
This year, 67% of those surveyed said that they consume products from short supply chains (without middle men) at least once a month, which is up by 6 points compared to 2023.**
Among the most prevalent expectations, peace of mind around fair pay for producers and the impact on health top the list. The preference for food bearing the Made in France label comes next: eating food produced within France is a priority for an increasing number of people.
Chronofresh supports this trend by enabling local producers to deliver their products directly to consumers and professionals, thereby extending their business into the regions and even nationwide. Its strength lies in its ability to collect from and deliver to all French postcodes via express shipping every day, while ensuring that the products stay fresh. Some 1,200 producers now use Chronofresh's services.
Initiatives to make for more responsible logistics
Chronofresh is mindful of the environmental impact of refrigerated transport, and is rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at reducing its ecological footprint. These include the use of some fifty vehicles with low CO2 emissions, the pooling of shipping movements (with standard packages using special isothermal containers), and the implementation of eco-efficient solutions on its sites. These include solar panels and measuring tools to optimise energy consumption. The company also combats food waste through food safety management and by forging partnerships with the food bank network.
To coincide with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Chronofresh has launched an environmentally-friendly initiative by deploying a fleet of refrigerated cargo bikes in the capital as a pilot program. Following this initial phase, the company plans to extend the project to the Lyon region. By the end of 2024, a fleet of around ten refrigerated cargo bikes will be deployed.
This approach is part of a long-term vision, with the aim of going even further in reducing environmental impact. Upcoming projects include the development of reusable packaging to promote more sustainable logistics.
Sources:
* Businesscoot.com Etude le marché des box alimentaires - février 2023 (Study of the meal kit market - February 2023)
** Baromètre 2024 des circuits courts Kantar et Pour de Bon - February 2024 ** (2024 study of short supply chains, Kantar and Pour de Bon - February 2024)
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About Chronofresh
Chronofresh is a subsidiary of Chronopost and a member of the Geopost network. Geopost, the La Poste group holding company, recorded sales of €15.7 billion in 2023, with 2.1 billion parcels delivered worldwide. As the leading operator in the express delivery of meal kits to businesses and consumers, Chronofresh has a team of more than 375 employees. It offers delivery of products at room temperature in 230 countries and territories worldwide, and temperature-controlled deliveries in Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain. Using the Chronofresh service offers players in this market a valuable opportunity to extend their catchment area and gain new customers. Shipping companies can present their expertise directly to end consumers, cutting out the middle man. This ensures that there is total transparency around where the products come from, and offers the chance to see what short supply chain delivery is like. For business customers, it also opens up access to a wide range of producers and product lines, making it easier to offer varied, seasonal produce menus or ranges, delivered daily. Chronofresh's promise remains unchanged: all food products, accessible to everyone everywhere in a timely manner.
