Pierre-Yves EscarpitCEO of ITM Logistique Alimentaire InternationalAs part of our logistics master plan overhaul, Excel-based modeling—even with highly advanced tools—simply no longer meets our needs.
Solutions like those offered by EURODECISION are essential, but they require precise, tailored configuration of the models. This is where EURODECISION’s customized approach, agility, and expert teams make all the difference—delivering results that are both consistent and highly relevant.
The food distribution sector demands extreme responsiveness. Throughout the project, I often needed data within very tight deadlines to present internal progress reports or updates to the master plan. The experts at EURODECISION were always available to provide precise answers or quickly model new scenarios.Pierre-Yves EscarpitCEO of ITM Logistique Alimentaire International
Following the acquisition of nearly 300 Casino stores initiated in 2023, the Intermarché and Netto brands—part of the Les Mousquetaires group—have strengthened their position as France’s third-largest food retailer, with a network approaching 2,500 stores nationwide.
This acquisition, representing a 10% increase in their business, posed a major logistical challenge. The gradual integration of these new stores into the distributor’s network was led by the executive team of ITM Logistique Alimentaire International (ITM LAI) between November 2023 and October 2024, in successive phases.
The operation also required a complete overhaul of ITM LAI’s 2025–2028 logistics master plan. The goal was twofold: anticipate growth in existing stores while managing the specific expansion of the former Casino outlets. In return for applying Intermarché’s pricing policy—which includes a 15–20% price reduction—the group expects a significant increase in foot traffic at these stores by 2028.
EURODECISION, a leader in decision mathematics and a recognized expert in supply chain optimization, has collaborated with ITM LAI since the launch of its Logistics Transformation Plan in 2012. It was therefore a natural choice for ITM LAI to once again call on its teams to model and optimize its four-year logistics master plan.
Starting in spring 2024, initial workshops helped structure the data model. Over several weeks, the two teams worked together to define optimization priorities, as well as the constraints and decision variables of the model.
Once the parameters were established, EURODECISION’s experts used their global optimization solution, SCOP Network Design, to explore various scenarios and address the study’s two main objectives:
First, the analysis identified optimal locations for new logistics hubs to be opened by 2028, aiming to reduce travel distances, lower transportation costs, and cut CO₂ emissions.
Second, the study defined a target logistics network, detailing the assignment of the 2,500 Intermarché and Netto stores to these hubs, while accounting for the distributor’s growth projections, platform capacities, and actual costs.
The study’s findings, delivered in September 2024 and validated by ITM LAI’s teams, enabled Intermarché and Netto to finalize their 2025–2028 logistics master plan for France. After consulting employee representatives in early 2025, this plan will help manage future growth and optimize short-term logistics decisions stemming from the acquisition of Casino stores.
ITM LAI is already working with EURODECISION to deploy the SCOP Network Design modeling solution internally. Given the need to regularly update Intermarché’s logistics strategy, scenario-based modeling will ensure the plan remains aligned with evolving volumes, capacities, and costs, while adjusting store-to-hub assignments as needed.
