Geodis sets out new ambitions

Multimodal freight forwarder Geodis says it has brought its first five-year strategic plan, Ambition 2018, to a “favourable” close.

Noting its annual turnover of €8.2bn, the firm’s chief executive, Marie-Christine Lombard, said: “The year 2018 has proven to be a good year for Geodis, which has delivered strong financial results, as well as reaching critical targets on our ongoing sustainability programme.

“Despite uncertainties of the macroeconomic context impacting our sector, such as uneven global economic growth, rising oil prices, and the mounting of protectionist measures, Geodis delivered increased sales and profits.” 

Lombard said the Ambition 2018 plan had successfully delivered improved financial performance year after year, reflected both in the company’s organic growth rate and in the tripling of its profit margin over the period. She stressed that Geodis achieved this growth while maintaining its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) philosophy, which encompasses social, societal and environmental targets.

For instance, 96% of the company’s vehicles are Euro 5 and Euro 6 compliant, and are electric, hybrid or powered by natural gas. Rating agency EcoVadis has ranked Geodis’s CSR programme in the top 1% of all companies evaluated, and has awarded it ‘Gold’ status, Lombard confirmed.

She continued: “As we look ahead, we foresee continued shifts and challenges in the economy and global trade. We plan on strengthened concentration, as well as the arrival of new entrants on the competitive battlefield. Meanwhile, the megatrends that are affecting our industry will generate both challenges and opportunities.

“To anticipate and respond to these trends, we have set forth our new ‘Ambition 2023’ strategic plan,” Lombard said.

Ambition 2023 seeks to meet the requirement for more agile supply chains through such measures as enhanced automation, mechanisation and digitalisation. Geodis will increase its use of big data to help customers anticipate activity levels so that they can reduce costs and waste in their supply chain.

The company’s environmental goals include the reduction of its CO₂ footprint by 30% by 2030.

Geodis also intends to expand its global footprint, with a specific focus on Central Europe, North America and high-growth Asian countries, to support its clients’ development.

Finally: “We are rich with expertise and many engaged employees. This needs to be preserved especially in light of the revolution ahead in logistics… We plan to enhance the training and development efforts for our people, in order to adapt to new technologies, and the speed of transformation in our industry,” Lombard concluded.