Single flat the real deficit of attractiveness of the city to managers

At the entrance of the pôle Jules-Verne of Amiens, a few hundred metres from the motorway A29, the seat of Métarom France seems new. Yet, it is already six years since the specialist in the manufacture of aromas and natural and artificial dyes, consolidated its three institutions, including its historical seat of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, in the Picardy capital. At the time, with the support of local communities, the company has invested some 7 million euros in the construction of this modern plant, which employs 120 people, including about 10 in research and development. A choice made "necessary", according to Jean-Loïc Métayer, son of the founder and current CEO of the company, by the exponential growth of the company, in France as in the international: "in the past, the growth of Métarom resulted in the purchase of a former mill in Lille and a competitor based in Strasbourg, shows the head. This dispersion on three poles, some of which were obsolete, no longer corresponded to our strategy. That's why, in 2002, we we are looking for a new site the Northwestern great basin.

Econduits by the Lille conurbation, Métarom leaders are turning to smaller cities, classified as zone PAT, where they can benefit from aid in the implementation. In the end, two municipalities stand to the forefront: Cambrai and Amiens. The existence in the latter of one-stop by the Chamber of commerce is the rest; Métarom decided to move there. The proposals for reclassification are open to the employees of the group. About 130 people, only 35, including 4 operators and employees accept the transfer: "We had anticipated hiring before the move." "Thus, January 1, 2004, date of the start of the factory, our workforce was 70 employees, 20 began the same day," says Jean-Loïc Métayer. "Without special fasteners in the Paris region, I readily agreed to come and settle in Picardy, is remembered for his part Isabelle Chenavier, responsible for specifications in Métarom." Not necessarily enjoying the Parisian life rhythm, I wanted a more human size city. Today, I do regret absolutely not. "With hindsight, the CEO of the company believes have made the right choice. Well positioned geographically, the new facility allowed the company to achieve economies of scale, while giving it a dynamic image of SMEs with its customers. Single flat: the real deficit of attractiveness of the city to managers. "It is difficult to attract and retain Amiens of higher level profiles, especially when the job market starts rising." In six months, three executives have left the company, often to return to Paris. Eventually, this can become problematic.

For the time being, these recruitment difficulties do not appear to affect the growth of the group. In 2009, Métarom has indeed recorded a growth of 4, finding consolidated its fiscal year with a turnover of EUR 26 million, $ 19.2 million for Métarom France. Very active in Europe, the company now seeks to develop on other continents: "We are making 85 of our activity in Europe, in an area where the growth is likely to be low in the coming years." "We must imperatively diversify us turning to expanding markets," said Jean-Loïc Métayer. To do this, Métarom invested in 2009 in the creation and the reactivation of various subsidiaries, based

Australia, in the United States (San Diego) and Morocco (Casablanca). Growing fast, these representations could lead to new investments, or even on the launch, two to three years, a new unit of production in Montreal.