A century-old miller that’s still cutting-edge, introducing electric trucks
to deliver to Parisian bakeries in partnership with the Mauffrey Group.
Since May 2, 2023, two electric trucks bearing the Grands Moulins de Paris logo have been part of the flour delivery routes to the Île-de-France region and central Paris. This initiative stems from our Link by GMP sustainability program and was made possible through our collaboration with our partner Mauffrey. On Thursday, June 29, representatives from Grands Moulins de Paris, Mauffrey, and Volvo officially launched these vehicles during an inauguration ceremony at the Paris-Gennevilliers mill.
From left to right: Kévin Mauffrey (Mauffrey Group), Pierre Garcia (Grands Moulins de Paris), Franck Thomasse (Greater Paris Bakers’ Employers’ Association), Laurent D’Arnal (Volvo Trucks)
Going the extra mile by delivering to our bakery customers with electric trucks
At Grands Moulins de Paris, we are committed to protecting our planet. As a major player in the food industry, we are mindful of our environmental impact.
Minimizing this footprint as much as possible is part of the commitments of our sustainability initiative, called Link By GMP. Our goal: to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050.
One way to achieve this is by improving the transportation methods used for our wheat supplies and flour deliveries. We have been working closely with the Mauffrey Group to gradually replace our fleet of trucks used to deliver flour and miller’s mixes.
Reducing our CO2 emissions by delivering to our Parisian bakery customers using electric trucks
Once the wheat has been ground into flour, it must be delivered to our customers, which is done by truck.
Until now, our delivery routes from our mill in Paris-Gennevilliers to the Île-de-France region were served exclusively by diesel trucks. As of May 2, 2023, two electric trucks have been added to the route for deliveries within Paris.
In total, 56.4 metric tons ofCO2 will be saved each year—the equivalent of 48 round-trip flights between Paris and New York (based on 65,000 km per year for the two electric trucks).
“It is a great pleasure for Grands Moulins de Paris to once again be a pioneer with the launch of the first two electric delivery trucks in France for distributing flour to bakers” – Pierre Garcia, CEO of Grands Moulins de Paris.
To power them, electric charging stations have been installed specifically at our mill in Paris-Gennevilliers
A trusted partner and always a pioneer
As a miller with a long history of serving bakers in Paris and the Île-de-France region—and still home to THE mill closest to Paris today—we are proud to implement eco-friendly transportation not only for sourcing our wheat but also for delivering flour.
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local communities, our mill in Paris-Gennevilliers sources 100% French bread wheat grown in the immediate vicinity and two-thirds of which is transported by barge. Its fleet of flour delivery vehicles for artisan bakers is now partly electric.
“Mauffrey and Grands Moulins de Paris have a lot in common, starting with their commitment to an ambitious environmental initiative. We are proud to launch these two more eco-friendly vehicles.” – KévinMauffrey, Technical and Purchasing Director, Mauffrey Group
The Mauffrey Group, an indispensable partner
The partnership with the Mauffrey Group was a natural fit, as this transportation provider has been a pioneer in the use of alternative energy sources in France: it put thefirst gas-powered tractor on the road in 2012, thefirst electric delivery truck in 2021, and thefirst 44-ton electric tractor in 2022. Today, Mauffrey is making its expertise available to its customers, including Grands Moulins de Paris, to decarbonize their transportation and ensure the distribution of goods despite the constraints of LEZ regulations.
“We are part of the problem, and we want to be part of the solution. It is thanks to partners like Mauffrey and Grands Moulins de Paris that we will be able to decarbonize. We are particularly proud to be part of this exciting journey.” – LaurentD’Arnal, Sales Director at Volvo Trucks
Trucks that don't go unnoticed
To increase the visibility of Grands Moulins de Paris as a milling partner for bakers, the truck branding was specifically designed. This graphic design reinforces the commitment to quality that our baker clients highlight to their customers by choosing Grands Moulins de Paris as their miller. The creative approach was boldly developed to highlight the choice of electric vehicles through the tagline “A century-old miller, always up to date.”
Mauffrey drivers also wear uniforms in the colors of both companies to make them more recognizable to bakery customers.
A sustainable development approach that has been well received by consumers
The switch to electric trucks is also a real boon for the quality of life of Parisian residents . Our customers tell us, “The big advantage of these trucks is the noise… or rather, the lack of it!” Indeed, flour deliveries take place at night or in the early morning, just before the bakers start their workday. While Parisians are still fast asleep, our baker clients can now receive silent deliveries, allowing them to start their day productively without worrying about disturbing their neighbors.
The customers we interviewed at our clients’ bakeries also expressed their satisfaction. For them, it’s important to know that their baker has chosen to source flour from a miller committed to sustainable development.
“We are pleased to be here today to unveil these electric trucks. Our bakers will greatly appreciate the introduction of these vehicles, which significantly reduce noise pollution.” – FranckThomasse, President of the Greater Paris Bakers’ Employers’ Association
A sustainable delivery fleet that we plan to expand to our other mills
This major project was made possible by the joint efforts of our logistics teams and those of the carrier Mauffrey. And we don’t plan to stop there!
As we replace our trucks, we prioritize gas and electric models based on the expected mileage. Starting in 2024, two electric trucks will also deliver to bakeries from our mill in Bordeaux.
As part of the replacement of our current diesel trucks that will operate in future low-emission zones (LEZs), we are also working on deploying 19-ton trucks powered by biogas (using bio-CNG engines). These future vehicles will be eligible for the Crit’Air 1 sticker and will therefore be able to operate within LEZs.
About Mauffrey:
The Mauffrey Group is a family-owned business founded in 1964, and today ranks among France’s leading road freight carriers. In recent years, the Group has undergone a comprehensive transformation to meet the needs of its customers. We provide tailored transportation and logistics solutions—whether by road, river, or rail—to support our customers’ growth throughout France via our network of subsidiaries. We stand out in particular for our human touch, the importance we place on service quality, and the central role our customers play. A pioneer in acquiring innovative and more environmentally friendly vehicles, the Mauffrey Group is once again setting itself apart by putting these two electric vehicles on the road on behalf of Grands Moulins de Paris. The European transport organizer has been building its energy transition for over 10 years, notably with the acquisition of France’s first gas-powered tractor in 2012. Thanks to multimodal solutions and its fleet of gas, biogas, biodiesel, and electric vehicles, Mauffrey aims to achieve its goal of reducingCO2 emissions by 50% by 2030. www.mauffrey.com
