Materne is a well-known food brand specialising in fruit-based products. Based near Namur, the company has been experiencing steady growth, with production volumes steadily increasing over the years.
The Challenge
Until recently, Materne’s products were stored by Weerts Supply Chain at the Trilogiport warehouse in Liège.
This storage solution worked well, but a combination of factors gradually made the setup less efficient:
- Rising demand for -20°C in the region reduced available capacity
- High transport costs due to the distance between their production site near Namur and Liège
- Fragmented operations that made it difficult to consolidate all their products in one place
- Limited visibility into long-term capacity created uncertainty for future growth
Our Approach: Data-driven advice and a future-ready solution
1. In-depth analysis to identify the best long-term solution
Before recommending a relocation, WSC carried out a series of detailed assessments, including:
- Transport flow analyses
- Cost-saving simulations across different scenarios
- Comparison of available storage capacities
- Projections of Materne’s expected volume growth
These assessments showed that a transfer to WSC’s new logistics site in Charleroi would meet their current needs and support their long-term development.
2. A strategically closer and more efficient location
Charleroi is significantly closer to Materne’s production facility. This proximity:
- Reduced transport kilometres and costs
- Simplified daily logistics flows
- Strengthened the reliability of just-in-time deliveries
3. Immediate capacity and the ability to consolidate all volumes
The Charleroi site offered a substantial capacity upgrade from day one. With:
- Space for cold storage of around 6.500 pallets
- The ability to scale up to 9.000-10.000 pallets in the future
- The consolidation of all Materne’s volumes into one location
Centralising their stock in one warehouse improved visibility, reduced operational friction and created a more predictable logistics environment.
4. A modern warehouse facility built for long-term growth
Our warehouse in Charleroi features:
- Multiple temperature zones (-20°C, +4°C and ambient)
- State-of-the-art infrastructure
- Strict food safety certifications
- Planned extensions
This ensures Materne can continue to grow without future site changes or capacity concerns.
5. Seamless coordination across our warehouse sites
Relocating Materne’s entire stock required close coordination between:
The Trilogiport site <–> The Charleroi site <–> and the WSC transport teams
Transfers were executed gradually, with real-time data synchronisation and full cold-chain integrity maintained throughout.
Materne experienced no downtime, no product loss and no disruption to their daily operations.
The results: More capacity, lower costs and operational stability
Three times more available capacity
Before the migration, Materne stored around 2,000 pallets at Trilogiport. Since moving to Charleroi, WSC now manages more than 6,500 pallets, with the site able to accommodate up to 10,000.
This represents provides:
- Full consolidation into one site
- Full visibility over their entire stock
- A scalable setup that supports future growth
Clear transport cost reductions
Thanks to the Charleroi site’s proximity to Materne’s production centre, logistics costs dropped immediately and reduced the number of long routes.
A smooth transition and a confident partnership
Although a relocation can seem risky, Materne experienced a stress-free move with no uninterrupted operations and enhanced daily efficiency.
The migration strengthened their confidence in Weerts Supply Chain as a logistics partner capable of anticipating needs, adapting quickly and investing in long-term solutions.
Looking ahead
The warehouse in Charleroi represents a strong and important expansion of WSC’s existing cold storage network, which includes Trilogiport and other temperature-controlled sites.
Planned expansions and ongoing optimisation will continue to support Materne’s evolving needs with flexibility, reliability and future-ready capacity.
Ready to optimise your cold chain logistics?
If you are facing capacity challenges, rising transport costs or fragmented operations, WSC can help you design a long-term cold chain solution tailored to your business.
