Foundation
ESSEC Students Discover The Solidarity Warehouse
On Thursday, April 24, 19 students from the ESSEC Social Innovation Chair were welcomed to the Solidarity Warehouse, the largest shared warehouse in France. This pioneering initiative, launched by the CMA CGM Foundation, brings together five major French nonprofit organizations — Restos du Cœur, the French Red Cross, Secours Populaire, ANDES, and Secours Catholique — to strengthen the fight against food insecurity through greater collaboration and efficiency.
From the Classroom to the Field
As future contributors to the social and solidarity economy, the students gained firsthand insight into the inner workings of a major logistics operation. The visit revealed the full scope of the initiative: over 10 million meals distributed each year, more than 150 tonnes of food dispatched every week, and a daily mobilization of 30 volunteers and nonprofit staff.
This immersive experience sparked thoughtful discussions and deepened the students’ commitment to creating meaningful, high-impact projects.
A Major Social Innovation Led by the CMA CGM Foundation
Inaugurated on December 6, 2024, in the presence of the First Lady of France, Mrs. Brigitte Macron, the Solidarity Warehouse offers more than 5,000 m² of storage space, including a refrigerated area, enabling the warehousing of up to 3,200 tonnes of food. It now supplies 330 distribution sites across Marseille and the Bouches-du-Rhône region.
Supported by the French State, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, and the City of Marseille, this flagship project embodies the CMA CGM Foundation’s commitment to building a more effective, structured, and sustainable model of solidarity.
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