ARGAN and U PROXIMITE FRANCE officially inaugurated the new logistics facility for the food distribution brand. This Aut0nom® certified warehouse completes and finalizes the ARGAN logistics park developed in St-Jean-sur-Veyle, which now totals over 100,000 square meters spread across three sites, two of which were developed in less than a year. After a 12-month construction period, the teams of U PROXIMITE France (UPF) were able to take possession of their new logistics tool.

Developed by ARGAN, it allows the branch of COOPERATIVE U (formerly SYSTEME U), dedicated to operating local food stores, to deliver to all UPF stores in the northern half of the country. The multi-temperature warehouse consists of 20,000 sq.m for ambient storage, a 7,500 sq.m positive cold cell (+2/4 C°), and a 2,200 sq.m negative cold cell (-25 C°). The logistics of all 22,000 food SKUs offered by the U EXPRESS and UTILE brands are managed on-site.

An office block of 1,400 sq.m, on two levels, complements the complex, housing part of the 150 employees working on the site. A few months after delivering a 14,500 sq.m Aut0nom® building to BACK EUROP, ARGAN concludes its logistics park project in St-Jean-sur-Veyle, now consisting of three sites offering over 100,000 sq.m of logistics space. ARGAN and U PROXIMITE FRANCE are mutually committed under a long-term 12-year lease.

Demonstrating the companies' shared commitment to the higher standards of energy efficiency, the site is Aut0nom® labelled. A photovoltaic power plant developing a capacity of 1,300 kWp has been installed on the roof, complemented by storage batteries with a capacity of 500 kWh. The heat emitted by the cold production system is recovered to heat the warehouse.

These installations significantly reduce the warehouse's energy consumption and carbon emissions. The residual emissions will be offset by a reforestation program in France, certified by the State's Low Carbon Label.