L'Oréal Canada: Logistics Centre, Consumer Service and Technical Training Centre

The challenge: L'Oréal wanted to find the optimal site to establish its 350,000 sq. ft. offices and logistics centre on the island of Montreal. Its criteria included:

• Competitive occupational costs
• Proximity to manufacturing operations
• Employee mass-transit needs
• Environmentally pleasing surroundings

VISTA's response:

• VISTA performed a comparative study to help establish the sites that would meet current and future needs.
  As a result, the optimal site was identified and acquired.
• We provided turnkey services for developing the new facilities, including meeting the company's operational and environmental requirements.
• We entered into a long-term lease with L'Oreal.
• We also assisted them in obtaining government funding to set up an on-site daycare centre.

Outcome: The L'Oreal site is truly unique, combining functionality and aesthetics. It is located in St. Laurent's industrial park next to the Bois-de-Liesse Nature Park. The new Logistics Centre established a new standard for all L'Oreal logistics centres.

Intria Processing Centre

The challenge: The company wanted a site in the Greater Montreal area for a 150,000 sq ft. data-processing facility with complex criteria such as:

• Proximity to partner institutions
• Stringent security considerations
• Access and ingress specifications
• Proximity to public transportation for employees
• Accessibility to the downtown core

VISTA's response:

• After a detailed review of the client's requirements, VISTA prepared a proposal for a site that met all of the identified needs.
• The final package offered by VISTA included every aspect, from site selection to final building coordination and setup of operations.

Outcome: VISTA worked very closely with Intria during development to coordinate their extensive design requirements. This resulted in a new state-of-the art Data Processing Centre that provides them with an optimum facility and gives them exceptional access to its entire network of clients.

Provigo Logistics Centre

The challenge: After Loblaws purchased Provigo, the new company wanted to expand a refrigerated logistics centre in Boucherville, from 150,000 to 300,000 sq. ft. Because of the size of the investment, the company wanted a redevelopment contract that would include the purchase, redevelopment and then sale of the facilities.

VISTA's response: Because VISTA had worked extensively with Provigo in the past, we were able to:

• Listen to and understand the goals for this new project
• Tailor our services to the company's culture and objectives
• Respond quickly
• Use our experience and knowledge to present sensible and economical options

VISTA oversaw the renovations of the existing building and the expansion of the property.
We then resold the facility to Loblaws.

Outcome: The new Loblaws refrigerated logistics centre in Boucherville has been entirely renovated and the property was expanded by an additional 150,000 sq. ft.

McKesson Pharmaceutical Product Logistics Centre

The challenge: McKesson Canada approached VISTA, its long-standing partner, to help develop a logistics centre for its Quebec operations. After a lengthy analysis, Drummondville was selected as the most strategic location to:

• Optimize routes from Quebec city to Cornwall
• Prevent trucks from running empty
• Give good access to major transport routes

VISTA's response:

• VISTA acquired a 500,000 sq. ft. parcel of land from the city of Drummondville.
• In partnership with McKesson, we designed and built the 185,000 sq. ft. logistics centre.
• We provided McKesson with a long-term lease of the facility.

Outcome: The project proved to be operationally very successful. With the new logistics centre, McKesson was able to modernize its supply chain in Quebec, improve competitiveness, and service its clients daily across the province.

Public Storage Facilities

The challenge: Public Storage Facilities needed to acquire a new site; however, because of its corporate governance requirements, it could not purchase the site directly.

VISTA's response:

• VISTA engineered a complex financial transaction to secure acquisition of the site.
• We then leased the site to Public Storage Facilities on an emphyteutic basis.

Outcome: The facility was delivered on time and within budget. It enabled the company to gain a foothold in an area to which they previously didn't have access.

Reitmans Logistics Centre

The challenge: Reitmans wanted to purchase a site for its future needs but wanted the transaction to remain confidential. They approached VISTA to help them locate and acquire the site.

VISTA's response:

• VISTA performed a comparative site analysis based on Reitmans' requirements.
• We identified the most appropriate site.
• We acquired the site for Reitmans' future development needs.
• Shortly thereafter, we sold it to the company.
• Reitmans then contracted VISTA to build a new distribution centre on the site. Later, in a second phase, VISTA carried out an expansion of the centre.

Outcome: Reitmans was able to carry out its development plans according to its ideal schedule. It distribution centre is located on an optimum site and has grown along with the company's needs.

Pepsi Bottling and Logistics Centre

The challenge: Pepsi required an expanded bottling and logistics facility. They also frequently required additional facilities to accommodate new product development.

VISTA's response:

• VISTA provided a long-term lease for Pepsi's central Montreal bottling and logistics operations.
• We worked closely with PEPSI to modernize their facilities, maximize productivity and plan for future expansion.

Outcome: Pepsi has been able to meet its production needs and growth targets by being able to bring new products to market.

Schneider Electric's Regional Office and Technical Centre

The challenge: Schneider Electric, one of the world's largest suppliers of electrical components, wanted a regional office and technical centre. Their requirements included:

• Acquisition and lease-back arrangements
• Major capital investment needed to the building, to allow it to receive technicians for training on new products

VISTA's response:

• VISTA developed a long-term partnership with Schneider by acquiring their existing facility and leasing it back to them.
• We performed exhaustive renovations on the building to meet the company's new requirements.
• We were able to minimize interruptions in operations during construction.

Outcome: Schneider Electric retained the ideal site to meet all of the company's current and future needs. The centre supports the technical requirements for training groups of electricians on Schneider products.