I had an hour and a half trip morning and evening

OUR CORRESPONDENT IN ORLEANS.

The shade of trees, employees pique-niquent at the break of noon next new brand warehouses, area of activity of the Subdray, near Bourges. A little further, administrative offices are on a small wood where soon will come to live with ânes It is in this bucolic almost, two steps from the A71, that La Bovida, specializing in the manufacture of spices and trading equipment of kitchen for food professionals, asked his suitcases for the summer 2002. Until then, this company family, created in 1921, was installed in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), where the grandfather of the current President and CEO had purchased several buildings.

"We were on two sites, with warehouses on four levels, elevators that fell down, docks cluttered, problems of security, hygiene." It was an hour morning and evening to identify and to weatherproof coating for allow ", remembers Olivier Hennel, forty years, head of the company, it was integrated in 1992. The Bovida was then 40 million turnover and employed 400 people, including 170 in Nanterre. "But it had more invested for years and this weighed on development." It is the departure of the founder, to eighty-five years, which allows the mutation. The father of Olivier Hennel, who cultivated grapes in Touraine, is the transition. For him, the move is vital. It had indeed already advocated it thirty years earlier!

End of 2000, with his son and two or three frames made in confidence, he left prospect. Tours, Blois, Orléans Without success. It is a banker who suggested Bourges. The city is small compared to the original criteria, but the reception is cordial and effective. The proposed land is three times larger than in the Paris region for the same price. In addition, the zone enjoys significant aid, PAT, ERDF, FRED, etc., which cover a quarter of the total cost (EUR 10 million). In two months, the choice is made. Remains to announce it to employees. Carole, Assistant purchase, did not hesitate more than a day. "The first thing I made is buying an apartment, which was unthinkable in Paris." Since then, I is put more feet twice a year, to change the train when I will see my family in Italy "Others, like Serge, forty-eight years, responsible for the shipping service, found the time to live. "I had an hour and a half trip morning and evening." I am ten minutes, it is a true luxury!

The majority prefers to leave the company, despite site visits and aid in the installation. They are ultimately only 35 to follow, a few close retirement frameworks that will make the shuttle with Paris, and especially the employees without too much pressure. "It surprised us, there was a real loss of know-how," regrets Olivier Hennel, came with his doctor wife and four children. "The hardest blow was the departure of the Logistics Director, who told us at the last moment." It changed software, commands were lagging and clients did us pay it. Fortunately the commercial network on the ground had not moved!

At the same time the renewal of the teams, with 105 hirings, also had advantages. Fabrice, forty-one years, responsible for deposition, remembers these refractory scrolls barcodes manually. "Nanterre, it was prehistory!, fun.". If it was more likely to follow, it would have never succeeded in changing working methods! "The move has enabled to review the process, to increase profitability. Result, after two strained years, La Bovida has returned to growth in 2004. "We were finally able to focus on a more offensive business strategy," welcomes today Olivier Hennel. Last year, La Bovida more than 51 million in sales and opened its first stores free for individuals. Other projects are in the study, including at the international, which would be a first in the history of the company

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