Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, Socomore has engaged in the urgent production of hydroalcoholic gel to reduce the shortage. Strenghtening its commitment to solidar and useful products, the company created a complete safety kit for companies to restart their activity : Socosafe.
Frédéric Lescure, CEO of Socomore Group
“When health and safety regulations are respected, it’s not more dangerous to go back to work in your company than to go shopping.”
Mobilized to maintain the company’s business continuity since the beginning of the Covid-19 health crisis, Frédéric Lescure, CEO of Socomore Group, did not hesitate to transform the production lines of his factories to meet the highly critical needs for hydroalcoholic gel.
“On day 2 of lockdown, our activity collapsed by more than 50%. We had to find an alternative to maintain the activity and perpetuate the business,” explains the Vannes CEO who employs nearly 300 people.
10% of the French production
“We are trained to handle chemicals. But we had to adapt our machines to the manufacturing of this disinfection product and organize raw materials supply”, explains Frédéric Lescure, fully dedicated to the “war effort”.
A chain of supportive local companies was quickly created: the Lancelot Brewery for alcohol and the Anju-Beauté company for packaging. Over the past two weeks, Socomore has produced 200,000 liters of gel and nearly a million disinfectant wipes per week. “That accounts for 10% of the French production.”
A Special Kit for Activity Restart
With that positive experience in hand, the Vannes CEO quickly sought to address another covid-related issue lying ahead, offering adapted disinfection solutions to companies initiating a restart of their activity. “We designed a Special Kit including a hand disinfection container for workers protection, and a container for surfaces, to disinfect facilities. These no-rinse, simple products are validated by the WHO”, explains Frédéric Lescure. Socomore creates Socosafe.
The production is industrial. “We do have chemical raw materials and authorities granted us access to agricultural ethanol, which is delivered by truck.”
The finished product is packaged in cubic boxes or containers with a capacity of 3 or 5 liters. “We privileged the ecological option with a refillable packaging.”
10% of sold volumes to be offered to health workers
Solidarity is another value conveyed by the new brand. “10% of sold volumes will be distributed free of charge to hospitals, nursing homes for dependent elderly people (“Ephad “) and associations”, explains Frédéric Lescure.
The digital sales platform has been operational since Friday April 17th. Logistics remains based in Morbihan, France. “The production and supply chain was built quickly but meets all applicable standards and authorizations” says the entrepreneur. In this context of crisis and emergency, rates are set by the prefecture, upon decree valid until May 31, 2020.
Upcoming Recruitments
And then, what about Socosafe? Frédéric Lescure aims for the long term. “We’re currently working on a regulatory dossier in compliance with the biocidal products regulation to extend the production of this kit beyond the decree’s deadline ». Socosafe would then become a new division of Socomore.
Thanks to this new activity, most workers went back to work. “We will even recruit”, says the CEO, further mentionning that the company’s internal organization has been updated to comply with social distancing and health guidelines.
More about Socosafe
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