Maroquinerie Thomas is investing €6M in a factory in Arras

Maroquinerie Thomas, a French family business

Created in 1937 by Auguste Thomas, Maroquinerie Thomas is a manufacturer of leather goods on behalf of luxury brands, especially in France. Its “Made in France” leather goods are recognized throughout the world. In the 1970s, the company decided to leverage its success by offering its leather expertise to major luxury brands. The move marked the start of subcontracting for the Maroquinerie Thomas Group. Today, the company is run by Thierry and Yann Thomas, along with several other members of the family. In 2017, Maroquinerie Thomas posted earnings of €99.5M and had nearly 1,300 employees in France.

Maroquinerie Thomas chooses Hauts-de-France and invests in Arras

Following its “Made in France” success, Maroquinerie Thomas wanted to have a new manufacturing unit in order to continue its expansion in France. The French company searched for several months before finally choosing Hauts-de-France, and more specifically the Actiparc industrial park in Arras.  The Arras Urban Authority is the best fit for the extensive criteria imposed by the luxury sector (accessibility, quality of life, female talent pool, work culture, financial assistance for business setup and training, and more). Maroquinerie Thomas already has a manufacturing plant in Bapaume, which will allow the French company to explore industrial synergies. Maroquinerie Thomas will invest more than €6M in the construction of this new plant, which will cover nearly 3,000 sqm and generate more than 250 jobs over the next four years. The company is set to break ground in early 2019.

Actiparc: a highlight of the region

Developed by the Arras Urban Authority, Actiparc is designed to offer companies optimal conditions for setting up their business, including accessibility, service, roads, and so on. The industrial park is home to 31 active companies, with nearly 1,500 employees in 188,000 sqm of buildings in operation, representing €575M in private investment. These distinct advantages led Maroquinerie Thomas to pick the Arras site. Pascal Lachambre, chairman of the Arras Urban Authority, welcomes the company to Actiparc: “This is clear evidence of how attractive we are, as recognized by the business world and especially the manufacturing sector.  With the announcement by LFB (French Fractionation and Biotechnologies Laboratory) of its establishment in the region, the spectacular expansion of the Orchestra logistics hub, and the development of many of our companies, Greater Arras is making its mark in the economic development of the Hauts-de-France Region.” Source: thomasmaroquinerie.fr, Voix du Nord, L’Avenir de l’Artois, le Journal des Entreprises