Corporate

75 years in good company!

Our company celebrates its 75th anniversary! Three quarters of a century marked by a passion for transport, a passion for service.

1 April 2025
Frédéric Mercier

🐟 MATHEZ TRANSPORTS INTERNATIONAUX S.A. was founded in Nice on April 1, 1950. 📅

Our company has developed, diversified and structured itself around several entities in 17 branches in France, under the MATHEZ FREIGHT & COMPLIANCE banner.

For 75 years, we have been constantly evolving, adapting and innovating – always guided by a passion for transport and a strong conviction:
👉 to put our expertise to work for our customers,
👉 with agility and commitment.

🙏 A huge thank you to our staff, our customers, our partners and all those who have helped write this wonderful story.

🔮 75 years is a time to look back with pride… and, above all, to look ahead! 🌍

New projects await us, driven by the same desire to build the next stage of our adventure together.

A story of men, women, passion and rebounds

1950

The origins

Raoul Mathez, SNCF correspondent for national freight, founded his company in 1950. Located in the heart of Nice, the company built its reputation on the shipment of fresh flowers, at a time when the famous flower market represented the bulk of Nice’s air traffic.

1953: opening of an agency in Cannes.

1950

1970-80

Growing up fast

Over time, activities expand. The company becomes a freight forwarder and then a customs broker. Goods from all over Europe, coming by road, and mainly from Italy are cleared by MATHEZ FREIGHT , which becomes the first Nice company to organize groupage on Milan. The company soon becomes the preferred freight forwarder for Grasse manufacturers as well as exhibitors at French Riviera trade fairs. It opens an agency at Roissy-CDG airport.

1979 – creation of a exhibition servicetoday named MATHEZ ONSITE LOGISTICS.
1987: Paris-CDG agency opens.

1970-80

1990

Building new ambitions

In 1986, Pierre Mathez, son of Raoul Mathez, takes over the management of the company with his wife Brigitte and Marc Fagnen. Aware of the importance of diversifying and ensuring a national network, the Nice-based company decided to open agencies in France’s main ports and airports, to expand the air export service, to develop specialized services for the Côte d’Azur’s specific markets, to adapt its offerings to the new European context, and to invest in building up an international network of independent agents.

1992: creation of the “sister” company MATHEZ MONACO in Monaco.
1992: opening of an agency in Marseille.
1992: start of the activity of VAT recovery offer at trade shows and congresses.
1993 : creation of MATHEZ INTRACOMspecialized in intra-EU VAT procedures.
1998 : MATHEZ FREIGHT becomes a founding member of the WCA network of independent freight forwarders.
1998: Shipping agent activities restarted.

1990

2000-2020

Developing specialized services

The extremely volatile regulatory environment, the intensification of cross-border flows and technological developments create new risks for companies operating internationally. MATHEZ FREIGHT is setting up expert services to support and assist its customers with the maze of regulations, and pursues its development in France to offer specialized services and local contacts.

2000 : birth ofEASYTAXspecialized in VAT fiscal representation.
2000: creation of a department dedicated to arts and show logistics – MATHEZ ART LOGISTICS.
2007: opening of an agency in Paris-Orly.
2007: creation of a department dedicated to funeral transport: Eclip’s.
2008: opening of an agency on the shipyards of La Ciotat.
2012: creation of MATHEZ FORMATION, a subsidiary dedicated to training and compliance assistance in the fields of VAT, customs and taxation.
2013: the company obtains “AEO-Full” certification, a European label recognized on the international scene and which helps to streamline customs procedures.
2015: opening of an agency in Lyon .
2015: opening of the Paris office for MATHEZ ART LOGISTICS.
2017: opening of an agency on the Marine Activity Park in Saint-Mandrier.
2018: MATHEZ FREIGHT posts its best results ever.
2020: Covid and Brexit – MATHEZ FREIGHT goes into task force mode to transport the masks and protective equipments and set up customs solutions to be used after Brexit.

2000-2020

2021

New management and new brand architecture

New brands MATHEZ FREIGHT & COMPLIANCE

As the French group’s management changes, so a new graphic identity has been created for the updated brand architecture.

2021

2022

Structural Evolution

2022: MATHEZ TRANSPORTS INTERNATIONAUX becomes a public limited company (SA) with a Supervisory Board, and three of its managers are appointed to the Executive Board: Frederic Mercier (CEO), Marion Sabatier (Managing Director) and Alexandre Herniaux (Managing Director).

2022

2023

Focus on new services

March 2023: MATHEZ FREIGHT launches Demarches-Plaisance.Net, the “self-service” portal for all French yachtsmen, supported by the experts in our Cannes office.
April 2023: MATHEZ FREIGHT structures and expands its offerings MATHEZ CAR SHIPPING and MATHEZ AVIATION SOLUTIONS.

2023

march 2025

With Mathy in Dubai

In Dubai at the WCA World Congress, the MATHEZ FREIGHT team presents its logistics tour of France with Mathy its new mascot, and launches #MathyTheDuckChallenge.

Frédéric Mercier receives WCA Hall of Fame Award 2025.

march 2025

april 2025