From its Lille warehouse, Martigane benefits from a strategic geographical position at the heart of the north-western European commercial triangle. 30 minutes from the Belgian border, 1.5 hours from Brussels and 2.5 hours from London via the Channel Tunnel.
The Belgian market: regulatory simplicity, labelling requirements
Belgium remains a member of the European Union, which considerably simplifies trade. Food products compliant with European regulations circulate freely, without customs declaration. The main specificity concerns bilingual labelling: for products marketed nationally in Belgium, labelling must be drafted in both French AND Dutch. Martigane manages this constraint for its Belgian customers through over-labelling solutions.
Belgian distribution channels
The most relevant channels for Martigane products: cash and carry wholesalers (Metro, Sligro), retail chain purchasing groups (Delhaize, Carrefour Belgium, Colruyt), local grocery stores and HoReCa networks (out-of-home dining). Invoicing is subject to intra-Community VAT (exempted for B2B transactions between operators with a valid intra-EU VAT number).
The post-Brexit British market: complexity and opportunity
Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom is a third country. Exporting involves: customs export declaration on the French side, import declaration on the British side with UK EORI number, payment of customs duties under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, compliance with British regulations (UK Food Law, FSA). UK labelling imposes specific mentions: British importer address, weight in imperial units, mentions in British English.
The hidden Brexit opportunity
Many European suppliers abandoned the British market due to these administrative complexities. Distributors who maintained their presence on the post-Brexit UK market today benefit from reduced competition and higher commercial margins than the French market. Martigane offers DDP UK delivery (all costs included), managing the entire customs process on both sides of the Channel.
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