From its warehouse in Lille, Martigane operates across Europe and internationally. Ideally positioned at the heart of the north-western commercial corridor: 30 minutes from the Belgian border, 1h30 from Brussels, 2h from Paris, 3h from Amsterdam, 2h30 from London via the Channel Tunnel. A natural platform to serve the entire European market and structure export operations to Africa and the Middle East.
🇪🇺 The European market: free movement and competitive advantage
Within the European Union, food products complying with Community regulations (INCO Regulation 1169/2011, sanitary standards, labelling) circulate freely without customs duties or declarations. Martigane leverages this advantage to efficiently serve EU markets from Lille:
Immediate market, D+1 from Lille. Circuits: Delhaize, Colruyt, Carrefour Belgium, Metro, diaspora grocery stores. Bilingual FR/NL labelling managed by Martigane via over-labelling. B2B intra-EU VAT exempt.
Europe's leading logistics hub (Port of Rotterdam). Strong cash & carry wholesale network (Makro, Sligro). Demanding market on traceability and quality. Direct access from Lille in 2h30.
Europe's largest food market. Circuits: Rewe, Edeka, Lidl, Metro. Strong demand for ethnic and exotic products. Strict regulation (LFGB) but very high volume market.
Growing market. Large North African diaspora (Morocco, Algeria). Opportunity in Algerian beverages and ethnic grocery. Circuits: Mercadona, El Corte Inglés, independent wholesalers.
Major consumer of green coffee and origin food products. Growing demand for halal and exotic products. Active wholesale networks in major cities (Milan, Rome, Naples).
Fast-growing markets, demand for international branded products. Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary — direct road access from Lille. Rising consumption of energy drinks and confectionery.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom post-Brexit: complexity mastered
Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom is a third country. Exporting requires: export declaration on the French side, import declaration on the UK side with a UK EORI number, customs duties under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, compliance with UK regulations (UK Food Law, FSA). Martigane offers DDP UK delivery — all costs included, customs handled on both sides of the Channel.
Many European suppliers have withdrawn from the British market due to administrative complexity. Distributors who have maintained their UK presence now benefit from reduced competition and higher margins. The South Asian and North African diaspora market in the UK represents several billion pounds of annual turnover.
🌍 Beyond Europe: Maghreb, Africa & Middle East
Martigane also structures export operations on high-potential markets outside the European Union:
- Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) — Export of Algerian beverages to the European diaspora and re-export to the Maghreb. Beverages, confectionery, commodities (sugar, oils, rice). EUR.1 documentation, ONSSA Morocco certificate, approved operators Algeria.
- Sub-Saharan Africa — Export of food commodities (ICUMSA 45 sugar, vegetable oils, rice, powdered milk, flour) to Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya. Maritime logistics CIF from Le Havre or Marseille-Fos.
- Middle East — Export of halal-certified commodities to Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Sugar, oils, powdered milk, rice — SASO/ESMA compliance, Arabic labelling.
For export operations outside the EU, see our Commodities & Food Export section →
Our international logistics offer
FTL and LTL · D+1 BE · D+2 NL/DE · D+3 UK · Channel Tunnel or ferry
CIF, FOB, CFR · 20' and 40' containers · Le Havre, Marseille-Fos
EUR.1 · T1 · Sanitary certificate · Halal · ONSSA · SGS/BV
All costs included · Customs handled · Warehouse delivery
Lille sits at the intersection of the three largest consumer markets in Western Europe: France, Benelux and the United Kingdom. Within a 300 km radius from Lille: 180 million consumers, 5 countries, 4 languages, the ports of Dunkirk, Antwerp, Rotterdam and Calais. No other French city offers this positioning.