Matthieu Riou appointed Chief Executive Officier of Grain de Sail Logistics
In January 2026, Matthieu Riou was appointed Managing Director of Grain de Sail Logistics, the carbon-free freight forwarding subsidiary of the Breton group Grain de Sail.
Grain de Sail Logistics, a greener freight forwarding entity
A freight forwarder
Created in 2023, Grain de Sail Logistics is the subsidiary of the Grain de Sail Group dedicated to freight forwarding for its fleet of cargo sailing ships. The company operates regular, greener sea freight lines linking Europe and the Americas, with hubs in the ports of Saint-Malo (France), New York (USA) and Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe).
The Grain de Sail Logistics subsidiary is the exclusive charterer for Grain de Sail Shipping (the Group’s shipping company), combining sail transportation, integrated port operations and supply chain coordination. The company’s objective has remained unchanged since its creation: transport less, transport better, on the strength of the wind.
Dedicated services for demanding loaders
Our transport services are aimed primarily at shippers and freight forwarders in the food, luxury goods and wines & spirits sectors, offering premium transatlantic transport services that meet the challenges of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), service quality and transparency.
Matthieu Riou, from export to carbon-free shipping
A career focused on logistics and sustainability
Matthieu Riou holds a double Master’s degree in Management and MSC in International Business Negotiation from the Rennes School of Business, and has extensive commercial experience in the premium industries.
He joined Grain de Sail in 2017 as Export Manager. In 2019, he took charge of wine and spirits export activities in the USA, before being appointed Export Director in 2021. Three years later, he moves to the position of International Operations Director within Compagnie Grain de Sail.
In 2020, Matthieu Riou will launch the first low-carbon transport offer via Grain de Sail yachts. He manages the group’s logistics and shipping operations on several international routes, including port coordination, load tracking and relations with shipping partners. He contributes to the structuring of Grain de Sail Logistics’ commercial offering, working closely with the operational teams and shipper customers, especially key accounts.
Matthieu Riou comments: “The last 10 years have enabled me to grow professionally at the heart of a demanding project, driven by strong convictions, committed teams and sailors. This appointment is therefore part of a continuity, with a reinforced responsibility in the face of future challenges”.
Prospects and challenges for Grain de Sail Logistics
Matthieu Riou’s appointment to the position of CEO is part of Grain de Sail Logistics’ drive to grow its existing and future lines, following the capital increase carried out at the end of 2025. Priorities include structuring the commercial offer, maintaining operational excellence, making maritime operations more reliable, and optimizing port processes.
Grain de Sail Logistics thus intends to strengthen its ability to offer low-carbon shipping solutions compatible with shippers’ requirements for lead times, volumes and regularity on the cargo sailing vessels in the Grain de Sail fleet. In the medium term, the aim is to consolidate recurring flows and secure sustainable logistics partnerships with committed supply chain players, in preparation for the arrival of the future Grain de Sail III vessel, scheduled for 2028.
