The CMA CGM Foundation inaugurates France's largest solidarity warehouse dedicated to food aid in partnership with five associations

The Solidarity Warehouse of the CMA CGM Foundation was inaugurated this Friday, December 6, in Marseille, in the presence of Tanya Saadé Zeenny, President of the CMA CGM Foundation; Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group; Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region; and Benoît Payan, Mayor of Marseille.

Also in attendance were Mrs. Brigitte Macron and Soprano, highlighting their close ties and joint actions with the CMA CGM Foundation.

According to Tanya Saadé Zeenny, President of the CMA CGM Foundation: "The CMA CGM Foundation has been working with French food aid organizations for several years. These organizations are currently facing an increase in demand and a lack of resources, particularly for the storage, transport and distribution of food. We decided to go further and mobilize the resources and strength of the CMA CGM Foundation to create the largest multi-association warehouse in France, located in the heart of Marseille. It took two years of work and collaboration with the associations to start from scratch, to understand the scale of the needs and to act effectively. The Solidarity Warehouse will optimize storage space, improve working conditions for volunteers, and make the distribution of food aid more efficient. This is a true social innovation and a significant investment that makes this facility unique in its technology, its relevance and, most importantly, its usefulness". 

The Solidarity Warehouse spans 5,000 m² of storage space, located in the heart of Marseille at the Arenc logistics hub, close to major transport routes. Serving as a logistics hub within the city, it stocks 3,200 tons of food that are distributed by partner organizations in Marseille and across the Bouches-du-Rhône region.

Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the warehouse will boost the operational capacity of partner organizations, enhance product safety, and improve working conditions for volunteers. By pooling logistics resources, the initiative will increase efficiency and reduce costs for associations. Additionally, the 500 m² of office space within the warehouse will host the local headquarters of Restos du Cœur and the French Red Cross. 

With an 8% increase in 2023, the number of food aid beneficiaries has grown significantly in recent years, presenting logistical challenges for associations.

The CMA CGM Foundation leveraged the Group’s logistics expertise to optimize storage conditions, enhance volunteer working conditions, and streamline food aid distribution. The warehouse adheres to the highest technical standards in logistics, including refrigerated areas that enable associations to offer more fresh products, essential for balanced nutrition. Specifically, the 360 m² of cold storage chambers can accommodate 300 pallets of fresh and frozen products. 

The Solidarity Warehouse is a shared space for Restos du Cœur, the French Red Cross, Secours Populaire, ANDES, and Secours Catholique. While maintaining their unique missions, these organizations can pool their efforts to deliver more effective aid, particularly in the realm of food assistance.

The Foundation will cover the full cost of equipping the warehouse and 50% of its annual operating costs. The partner organizations contribute 20%, based on the space they occupy, while the remaining 30% is funded by the State (via the Prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône), the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, and the City of Marseille, through subsidies provided to the organizations.

To ensure smooth operations, the site will be managed by a logistics expert recruited by the CMA CGM Foundation.