Rewarding unfailing commitment, Flora Pedase-Brasier took over as general manager of the non-food distributor Mascadis in January 2022.. As the company will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2027, it is an opportunity to look back on a personal journey which is accompanied by a vision of the role of the collective and the evolution of the company.
Meeting Leader : Next year, Mascadis will blow out its 25 candles and you, you will have 20 years of presence. Today, what is your greatest pride ?
Flora Pedase-Brasier : The sustainability of Mascadis, which is a family-run SME ! Thanks to a committed team and despite an often unstable market, we were able to adapt and grow. What makes us strong, it’s our cohesion. Success is the result of collective work. Alone, the leaders could not have achieved this feat. Whether they are the elders or me, we were able to bring together a team so that it gave the best of itself.
I think of Kevin Fontaine, my partner for 14 years, became commercial director when 10 years ago I was appointed deputy director of Mascadis. I also think of Sébastien Paulo, our logistics pillar for 13 years as well. I don't forget the recent collaborators who bring fresh ideas, other ways of seeing. Everyone shares the same values. It is this unity that allows us to meet the challenges. Another pride : the renewed confidence of our customers, who appreciate our professionalism and commitment.
In your journey, what moments stood out to you the most? ?
My arrival at Mascadis, 20 years ago, remains engraved. So just graduated from a BTS, I had to abandon my studies to help my family. Mascadis was the first company to give me a chance. I started as a receptionist assistant.
By showing that I wanted to invest myself more and more, I gradually took on responsibilities, until the official handing over of the reins of the company when the founders, Jean-Luc Billaud and Mario Feragotto, have chosen to trust us, to Kevin and me, who embodied the new generation. For us, the challenge was great. We identified it with the help of a business management trainer who supported us for 4 years. Another highlight was the launch of our Mascalight brand in 2013. A real challenge for a distributor of national brands like us. I could still mention crisis management : Covid, inflation, wars… Today, in a rather pessimistic general climate, Mascadis continues to progress, to recruit and innovate.
Mascadis grows with new brands, like Algoflash garden products. How is the company doing and what is your vision for the future? ?
If Mascadis is solid, it is thanks to its almost 25 years of experience and its ambitious team. The average age is 36 years old. Fueled by this youth and this experience, our strength lies in our ability to adapt, whether at the market, to products or employee needs. Our vision stems from this : Since the beginning, it has been about diversifying our offering while remaining faithful to our DNA as a local company close to its employees., of its customers and suppliers, with whom it forms win-win and lasting partnerships.
Why did you create Mascalight and what does your brand offer today? ?
In lighting, the Reunion market has specific needs. They were poorly covered by metropolitan or European suppliers, because of products that are often too expensive or unsuitable. This is why we developed Mascalight – to meet these local expectations. Mascalight allows us to control our offer, its distribution and marketing, in particular to avoid stock shortages.
It was a real challenge for a small business like ours. On the regulatory level, we had to manage compliance with the EPREL register (the European product register for energy labeling). For placing products on the market, registration on this European Union database is mandatory. This very technical approach made us doubt. Eventually, after extensive training, we succeeded and Mascalight now competes with national brands in terms of quality and choice. The brand is well established locally and by the end of the year, another development is planned.
Running a business, it means facing constant challenges. How do you turn them into strengths? ?
As I said : through adaptation and teamwork. And it is in these periods that links are strengthened not only with our suppliers and our most reliable customers, but also between our collaborators. To overcome difficulties, commitment is key. We are now 15 and at home, quality of life at work is a priority. Recent recruits are often surprised by our environment !
You operate in a sector where negotiations are demanding. As a female leader, did you have to convince more ?
I had to prove myself, not because of my gender – mentalities have nevertheless evolved – but because of my young age. At first, some saw me as a student just out of school but the results spoke for me. When you have the skills, we become credible and there is no more debate. I gained the trust of former leaders, by Kevin and Sébastien, and the interlocutors I was brought to meet. Now, I get a lot of respect in this profession.
What advice would you give to a young Reunion Islander who dreams of evolving in the business world? ?
I would tell him to dare to seize opportunities, like I did after leaving my studies. To give 200%, without asking questions about gender or age. To believe in your abilities. I would also advise him to constantly train, to be perseverant.
After 20 years of career, I continue to learn, either in training structures, either in a personal way !
But if there is something fundamental in my eyes, it’s about staying true to your values, and to always put the customer at the center of its actions because without its customers a commercial company does not exist. To lead, the important thing is to surround yourself with the right people.
As the famous saying goes : " Alone, we go faster but together, we go further. » I check it every day.
