They weigh between them 300 million euros in turnover and employ nearly 1,300 employees in Brittany and in the Pays de la Loire. In the West, the France Boissons, Ouest Boissons and Cozigou distributors are real pillars of local life. Their mission is indeed of the utmost importance since they are responsible for providing beverages to all the bars, hotels and restaurants in the area. Not to mention the associations, sports clubs and the many festivals that agitate the region on sunny days.
Two months before the start of the tourist season, the three actors are nevertheless worried. Because like many sectors, the beverage distribution sector lacks hands. “We were stopped for almost a year with the Covid-19 but we have since seen a strong recovery in activity”, underlines Frédéric Pouliquen, president of Ouest Boissons.
“We sell friendliness”
Faced with this labor shortage, the three competing companies have decided to join forces to promote their professions and make candidates want to join them. About 300 positions are offered in the two regions with diverse and varied jobs such as delivery driver, order picker, forklift drivers or sales representatives. “Our activity is fairly seasonal, so 60% of positions are on fixed-term contracts but on assignments of three to six months,” explains Antoine Cozigou, president of the eponymous family business.
The three leaders are aware that these logistics jobs can be scary because of the arduous nature of certain tasks. But they ensure that investments have been made to “secure the working environment and limit the effects of hardship”, explains Maxime Petitfrère, regional director of France Boissons. They also insist on the essential role played by their teams who are “promoters of social and festive life. “We sell friendliness and we have privileged relationships with our customers, whom we deliver to every week,” assures Frédéric Pouliquen.