Since this fall, Antoine Lequeux, 37, has been the new director of Transports Frémy. The opportunity to present his professional career, his vision of the profession and the ambitions he has to ensure the growth of his Brest structure.
Transport Info : What was your journey until you took office? ?
Antoine Lequeux : I started at Transports Lahaye, in Vern-sur-Seiche (35), where I completed all my work-study studies, from my BTS to my master's degree. I started as a salesperson, before taking responsibility for the operation of their Nantes agency. Then, I went to Lidl for four years, as transport manager for store deliveries near Rennes.
After a short stint with a transporter in Fougères, I left to work in the West Indies to manage a company which provided exceptional transport, lifting, handling and transport of containers, with two agencies, in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Today, taking over the management of Transports Frémy corresponds to my career plan, that of being the owner of an SME in which I can invest body and soul to develop its potential.
OF : How has the company you run now evolved? ?
AL : Transports Frémy was bought in 2015 by the Lagadec group. Historically, it was Bernard Frémy, creator and former manager, who supplied stones to the various public works companies in North Finistère around Brest. Antoine Drogou, my predecessor, who arrived in 2001, managed 15 vehicles, 15 sets, 14 public works tippers and 1 cereal truck at the time. Gradually, he developed the company, and now we have 95 engines.
“We employ around a hundred employees, with a turnover of 13.5 million euros.”
Among other external growth operations, the purchase of Juhel transport in 2007 allowed the company to strengthen itself and rely on two agencies in Dol-de-Bretagne (35) and Plabennec (29). The company has also diversified to be able to now offer cereals, moving floors, flatbed transport, while retaining the TP tipper as its main activity. We employ around a hundred employees, with a turnover of 13.5 million euros.
OF : What are your strategic priorities ?
AL : Coming from conventional freight transport, at the time of the transfer of power, my work consisted of an analysis of existing activities to define possible improvements. In the public works sector, a profession closely linked to seasonality, I must use my experience in general transport to try to smooth out our work by finding new uses for our vehicles.
“We are not denying ourselves the opportunity for new external growth.”
We note that the fall in construction in the construction industry is clearly impacting our Dol-de-Bretagne agency and the Côtes-d'Armor sector, where we deliver a lot of aggregates for concrete plants. I also have two priorities in mind: finding new clients and developing new activities. In construction, for example, we could optimize our tautliners with on-board trolley and find customers such as window manufacturers.
We must also explore the potential of the agricultural sector and go see our existing partners in order to offer them our range of equipment. Our quality of service and reliability are recognized by customers, who like to work with local players. It is by relying on this DNA and thanks to the men who drive our vehicles that we are able to make the difference today. At some point, we will also be forced to turn east to ensure our development. Finally, why not open another agency in the south of Brittany? We are not denying ourselves the opportunity for new external growth.
Arnaud Ilié
