Oryx Energies inaugurates 36 innovative distribution centres in Benin

27 May 2014

Oryx Energies and its partners, the groups Alechou and Castel, inaugurated on 27 May 36 new distribution centres in Benin, as part of an ongoing program to open a total of 86 centres in the country by the end of 2015.

The inauguration ceremony took place at Akpro-Missérété, a commune on the outskirts of the capital, Porto Novo, in the presence Mrs. Naomi Azaria, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Jean Claude Gandur, Chairman of AOG (of which Oryx Energies is a wholly-owned division), and representatives of Oryx Energies and its partners.

“This project will create over 2,000 jobs across the country by the end of 2015”, stated Mrs. Azaria. “It also responds to the need to provide the entire population of Benin with access to quality products,” she added.

Based on an innovative concept, the centres bring together the sale of a series of essential products, including food and non-food items, including LPG cylinders, fuel and lubricants. A national call centre enables people to place orders between 7am and 10pm every day, including a home delivery service.

“These centres create practical and convivial spaces within towns across the country,” declared Jean Claude Gandur. “The concept represents a mini revolution, with its ability to provide easy access to essential everyday products for inhabitants of rural areas from the north to the south of the country,” he added.

The distribution centres cover on average 600 m2 and systematically include:

• An area with non-food items (petrol, LPG, lubricants)
• An area with food and drinks
• A small supermarket with everyday products and ice
• A business centre with internet access and a photocopy machine

“This partnership brings together organisations with complementary expertise to offer the population of Benin a very useful service, and is essential to improving the distribution network in the country,” commented Denis Vidal, Managing Director of Oryx Energies in Benin. “We have set up a reliable distribution chain that responds to consumer needs in every department and commune of the country. It is a significant improvement for people who previously had to travel kilometres to buy basic products without being certain the products would be available when they got there,” he concluded.

For more information, read the press release below: