Chronopost, France's leading express delivery company for parcels weighing under 30kg, has announced a major expansion of its North Ile-de-France hub in Aulnay-sous-Bois (93). With a threefold increase in sorting capacity, reaching up to 35,000 parcels sorted per hour, it has become the most efficient site in the network. It also boasts the infrastructure required to efficiently handle the full range of Chronopost parcels (non-household parcels, non-standard parcels and temperature-controlled food and health parcels). Thanks to this investment, Chronopost now has a network capable of absorbing the estimated 45% growth in volumes between now and 2030.
Dynamic growth in volumes and increasingly varied parcels
Chronopost's volumes are growing steadily, rising from 248 million parcels handled in 2023 to 265 million in 2024, an increase of 7%, outpacing market growth of 4.5%. This dynamic growth is due in particular to the significant increase in out-of-home deliveries, B2B express deliveries and temperature-controlled parcels. Diversification activities account for almost a third of the company's sales. Six years after it opened, the North Ile-de-France hub has undergone major work to increase its capacity and accommodate the very wide range of parcels handled.
Benoît Frette, Chairman of Chronopost, explains:
"The investment in the North Ile-de-France hub reflects our long-term commitment to meeting the growing needs of our customers for all types of parcel and for all markets. Thanks to the €50 million invested in this new site and our regional coverage, Chronopost now has a network capable of absorbing the growth in its volumes up to 2030, estimated at +45%.”
The North Ile-de-France hub becomes the largest in the Chronopost network
After expansion, the hub opened its doors in September 2024 and has been 100% operational since November 2024, equipped with the latest technology. The €50 million investment covers site layout (mechanisation, sorters, etc.) and information systems. The work will enable employees to work under optimum conditions, thanks to improved processes and the latest generation of equipment.
With a sorting capacity of over 35,000 parcels per hour, compared with 10,000 before the works, it can handle up to 600,000 parcels per day at peak times, making it Chronopost's most efficient site (546,000 parcels per day at peak times for the historic Chilly-Mazarin hub, which will continue to play a fundamental role in the network).
Infrastructures offering a better service for customers
This significant increase in capacity has been made possible by several factors:
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For sorting standard parcels, from October 2024, the number of sorters will be increased from 1 to 2, with higher throughput and 6-sided readers, enabling parcels to be scanned and analysed more quickly, regardless of their position on the sorting system;
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For sorting the growing number of small parcels, a new dedicated sorter will be fitted in November 2024 to handle around 70,000 parcels a day, as well as an automated bagging process to increase productivity when loading parcels;
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For the sorting of non-standard parcels (> 1m30, fragile or with unusual dimensions), which are very often handled manually, a "mechanised" handling system with automatic reading of parcel barcodes and capture of weight and volume data has been installed. It helps with sorting, thanks in particular to the use of light signals to identify the exit zone and avoid handling errors.
Furthermore, the geographical positioning of the North Ile-de-France hub means that more of the goods can be collected later (7pm instead of 6pm) for the many customers whose logistics warehouses are located in the north of the Ile-de-France region.
Cold stores for food and healthcare products
The North Ile-de-France site has more than 1,400m² of separate cold stores dedicated to Chronofresh and Chronopost Healthcare. Like a depot, it manages the sector's distribution of temperature-controlled food and healthcare products. With the cold stores in service, it can also be used as a back-up site to manage peaks in activity for temperature-controlled products, complementing the two temperature-controlled hubs at Chilly-Mazarin, which will open in 2023.
A focus on social and environmental impact
The new building has been awarded BREEAM Very Good certification for its high environmental performance, and its geographical location means that it can be used for around fifty collections by HGVs running on biofuel and biogas.
In addition, Chronopost is working alongside local stakeholders to improve staff access to the site, which is located on a former industrial wasteland and is difficult to reach by public transport. Chronopost supports the Rêve Francilien inter-company association, which works to improve transport infrastructure.
The site has already created around a hundred direct and indirect jobs. The site's expansion over the next few years will lead to additional jobs as business grows.
Further information
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About Chronopost
Chronopost is the leading national player in the express delivery of parcels weighing up to 30 kg to businesses and individuals. With a team of over 5,000 employees, Chronopost delivered 265 million parcels in 2024. Chronopost serves 230 countries and territories worldwide and has privileged access to Geopost's global network of Pickup points.
Through innovative technologies, local expertise, dedicated customer service and a network of 25,000 outlets in France (Chronopost branches, post offices and Pickup Points), Chronopost provides an excellent customer experience for both senders and recipients. Chronopost ensures low-emission delivery in Paris and around sixty cities across France.
Chronopost is a member of Geopost, the international parcel delivery network. Geopost, the holding company of Le Groupe La Poste, recorded revenues of €15.7 billion in 2023 for 2.1 billion parcels delivered worldwide.
