Led since 1966 by José Lamaire, the company of the same name—a leader in the potato trade in West Flanders—is present in all global markets. Four years ago, under the leadership of one of the director’s sons, the company took a new direction by building a frozen fry production plant under the I Fry brand in Vleteren, near Poperinge, Belgium. Its annual production is approximately 50,000 tonnes per year.
Until now, the loading of refrigerated containers was carried out by a Belgian logistics provider. However, in order to control its logistics and benefit from more favorable transport conditions, the Lamaire company, via its French subsidiary 24H Frost, decided to establish itself in the western port of Dunkirk to build and operate its own warehouse.
A warehouse operational in August 2019
The construction site, which has already started opposite the ferry terminal, will be completed in August 2019. “Initially, we will hire between five and seven people,” says José Lamaire. The investment amount has not been specified, but according to our information, it would amount to approximately 3 million euros.
With a height of 20 m, the new warehouse, which will be named 24H Frost, will be built on 6,000 m2. It will house a massive freezer, a technical room, offices, a shipping area, and will have a storage capacity of 10,600 pallets. Target markets: primarily Asia and Africa (notably the Maghreb countries), where products will be transported in refrigerated containers.
“The development in the French fry market is enormous”
As José Lamaire points out, “the development potential in the French fry market is enormous. It is therefore entirely possible, in the long term, to consider an extension of this new warehouse to an additional 80,000 pallets.“
For the Grand Port Maritime of Dunkirk, the arrival of the Lamaire company is, of course, excellent news. Container traffic development on one hand, strengthening of logistical reception capacities on the other: “The two combined are synonymous with job creation and added value,” summarizes François Soulet de Brugière, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dunkerque-Port.
Starting in 2019, 145 hectares of additional logistics zones will be delivered in several phases by the port. The objective: to accommodate new warehouses and new storage areas.
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