Groupe Sobotram

What Groupe Sobotram does

Groupe Sobotram is a French regional transport and logistics group founded in 1953, headquartered in Crissey near Chalon-sur-Saône, operating through five wholly-owned SAS subsidiaries (SOBOTRAM Transports et Logistique, SOBOROUTE, BERTHELARD, FRANCE EXPRESS 71, DUPONT BEDU). The group delivers six core services — messagerie (parcel/express), Easypal (pallet network), Lot (partial and full truckload), Logistique (warehousing), International (European and worldwide transport), and Traitement des déchets (industrial waste collection and transport) — under a single-account-manager model. Its core differentiator is regulated-goods specialization: it operates a SEVESO high-threshold site in Chalon-sur-Saône, holds ADR certification for hazardous-materials transport, and runs an ICPE-classified environmental facility, capabilities supported by an 18,000 m² ultrasecured chemical storage facility (Bâtiment F, opened March 2024) with sprinkler systems and water curtains for chlorinated and flammable products. The asset base totals over 100,000 m² of warehousing across metropolitan France, anchored by a 9,800 m² headquarters built in 2020 with 112 dock doors.

The group's go-to-market is enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers serving industrial and chemical-industry clients as primary verticals, supplemented by general commerce and industrial-waste segments. Pricing is bespoke and quote-based with no public disclosure. Distribution combines direct branch coverage in Saône-et-Loire and Ain with national/European reach via SOBOROUTE's membership in the Astre.TL network and a separate Easypal pallet network rail. Following the November 2021 fire that destroyed the new headquarters platform, Sobotram resumed express operations within 2 days and completed reconstruction by November 2022 — operational resilience highlighted by management. In January 2023, the entire group was acquired by Groupe Blondel, a Picardy-based diversified company managed by Grégoire Blondel, who succeeded Bruno Neyrat as president; the parent has since integrated RSE (Corporate Social Responsibility) into the group's strategic development and published a 2023 RSE report covering Sobotram entities.

Name

Groupe Sobotram

Legal name

Groupe Sobotram (operating as multiple SAS entities: SOBOTRAM Transports et Logistique, SOBOROUTE, BERTHELARD, FRANCE EXPRESS 71, DUPONT BEDU)

Website

https://groupe-sobotram.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Groupe Sobotram is a French regional transport and logistics group operating since 1953, serving industrial and chemical clients through 100,000+ m² of warehousing, a SEVESO high-threshold facility, and ADR-certified hazardous-materials transport across France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transport and Logistics Services

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (49311), Support Activities for Road Transportation (4884), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Trucking (No Local) (4213), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Packaging (Form-Fill-Seal, Blister, Sachet/Stick Pack, Bottling) (TLAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Transport and logistics services
• Hazardous materials transport
• Industrial warehousing services
• Pallet network distribution
• Chemical logistics storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Crissey

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Messagerie: Parcel/mail service transport with national coverage through France Express network
2. Transport Lot: Partial and full truckload transport services
3. Logistique: Over 100,000 m² of warehouse storage capacity in metropolitan France, including SEVESO facilities
4. Transport International: International transport services across Europe and worldwide
5. Traitement des déchets: Industrial waste collection and transport services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Groupe Sobotram is a French transport and logistics group that organizes and operates solutions for general merchandise and dangerous goods (ADR) across France and internationally. The company offers messagerie (parcel/express delivery), a pallet network (Easypal), partial and full truckload transport (Lot), warehousing with over 100,000 m² of storage capacity including SEVESO high-threshold facilities, international transport, and industrial waste treatment, with specialized expertise in hazardous materials and chemical storage.

Product overview

Groupe Sobotram operates as a transport and logistics group providing six core services: Messagerie (parcel/express delivery), Easypal (pallet network), Lot (partial/full truckload), Logistique (warehousing with 100,000+ m² including SEVESO facilities), International (European and worldwide transport), and Traitement des déchets (industrial waste management). The group also operates a recently launched specialized 18,000 m² chemical storage facility (Bâtiment F). The services focus on general goods and dangerous goods (ADR) transportation with integrated logistics capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Easypal: Pallet network service for pallet shipments across France and internationally
• France Express 71

Products and services

• Messagerie Parcel and express delivery service for general merchandise and dangerous goods within France, offered to industrial clients and commercial shippers requiring reliable national parcel distribution.
• Easypal (Réseau palette) Pallet network service enabling pallet shipments across France and internationally, designed for businesses shipping 1 to 3 pallet loads requiring network-wide distribution.
• Lot (Transport de lot partiels et complet) Partial and full truckload transport services for shipments exceeding standard parcel dimensions, offered to industrial and commercial clients requiring larger freight movements.
• Logistique Warehousing and logistics services offering over 100,000 m² of storage capacity in metropolitan France, including SEVESO high-threshold facilities, serving industrial clients needing managed inventory and storage.
• International International transport services covering Europe and worldwide destinations for general goods and dangerous materials (ADR), serving exporters and importers of industrial cargo.
• Traitement des déchets Industrial waste collection and transport services, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, designed for industrial waste producers requiring compliant handling.
• Entrepôt ultrasécurisé dédié aux produits chimiques (Bâtiment F) Specialized 18,000 m² hazardous materials storage facility for chemical products including chlorinated substances, flammable paints, and phytosanitary products, equipped with sprinkler systems and water curtains for safety. Targets chemical industry clients requiring ICPE/SEVESO-compliant storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reopened operations within 2 days after November 2021 fire disaster, demonstrating operational resilience
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Astre.TLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSOBOROUTE subsidiary is a member of the Astre.TL transport network, providing extended coverage across France and Europe through collaboration with other regional transport companies.
• CowoBeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CowoBee (Champforgeuil) for beekeeping sponsorship - part of RSE/environmental commitment. The company sponsors beehives producing 36 kg of honey and 162 liters of brewing wort through collaboration with Brasserie 'La rustine' in Epervans.
• SDIS 71 (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Saône-et-Loire fire department to support volunteer firefighters. Sobotram allows employees (Nicolas Poupard, Franck Olivry) to participate in firefighting missions and training while maintaining employment. One of 117 conventioned employers in the department.
• Elan ChalonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistorical sponsorship partnership with Elan Chalon basketball team - local sports sponsorship for brand visibility and community engagement.
• Rugby Tango Chalonnais (RTC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship partnership with Rugby Tango Chalonnais - local rugby club sponsorship with match-day partnership and tombola for employees.
• Marathon des Vins de la Côte ChalonnaiseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsorship of the Wine Marathon event, including partial funding of employee registrations and participation support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groupesobotram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-sobotram

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupe Sobotram