Initially scheduled to be in Valenton, the Rungis site was chosen by the Prime Minister of the time, Mr Michel Debré, to meet some very specific criteria:
- a place with vast empty spaces, easy to build on,
- a crossroads between major road, rail and air transport systems, with easy access for Parisian and provincial buyers and sellers and delivery of goods.
Decided by General de Gaulle in 1960, Mr Libert Bou, Vice-President of the permanent committee for public interest markets (MIN), was put in charge of the move and became the first chairman of Rungis and its surrounding areas.
Works started in 1964, with the building of the Fresh Fish pavilion, nine fruit and vegetable pavilions, four dairy and poultry pavilions, the cut flowers pavilion and the administrative centre. In 1973, the meat market, established at La Villette since 1950 with the abattoirs, moved in turn to Rungis where the decision was made to group all fresh produce. Indeed, with the development of refrigerated transport and the modernization of provincial abattoirs, the La Villette facilities rapidly became impractical. Since its inauguration, Rungis has never stopped expanding, changing, modernizing and innovating. It plays a decisive role in maintaining retail markets, especially in Ile-de-France. It constantly adapts to consumption trends and client needs, as well as ever higher standards in matters of food hygiene and safety rendering the upgrade of facilities necessary. Over these last forty years of business, a certain number of buildings have been refitted and rebuilt (tripe pavilions, dairy pavilions), modernized (fresh fish and meat product pavilions) and created too (Euro Delta zone, Ile-de-France fruit and vegetables producers’ floor).
At the launch of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Rungis, Mr Marc Spielrein, President of Rungis International Market, recalled: “
The impressive distance covered in 40 years. From a traditional wholesale market for a regional clientele, Rungis has become an international hub at the service of gastronomy and France’s food heritage… The adaptations rendered possible by the professionalism of the actors present on the site and the expansion of professions and skills into new activities ... We got where we are today thanks to our values and the quality of the men and women who work here everyday.”
Francis Duriez
Rungis Market important dates
1969 : 3 March, official opening of the Marché d’Intérêt National of Rungis
1973 : the meat market leaves the La Villette abattoirs to come to Rungis.
1998 : renovation of tripe pavilion.
1999 : upgrade of dairy pavilions to standards.
2000 : reorganization of meat products pavilion.
2003 : creation of new seafood pavilion..
2004 : delivery of 1st section of Euro Delta area (50 000 m2 platform for trade and logistics) and new producers’ floor..
2009 : 3 March, date of 40th anniversary of Rungis International Market.
Rungis Market key figures
The world’s largest fresh produce market represents:
7.6 billion euros turnover in 2007 (up 4.5% on 2006)
232 hectares of land 7 km from Paris..
1,5 million tons of food product deliveries
118 million consumers supplied including 11 million in Ile-de-France..
1,228 companies (wholesalers, producers, brokers, logistics, central purchasing agencies, service providers)..
12,233 employees working for MIN companies..
Food over the centuries...
Since it first began, the market of Les Halles de Paris always stood out for the abundance and diversity of its food products. In the Middle Ages, bread was still the staple food of the lower classes, a situation that lasted until the 18th century, accounting for 60% of the food budget. The elites consumed poultry, fruit (pears, apples, grapes, cherries, apricots, oranges and lemons) and expensive spices (ginger, pepper, saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg), whereas the peasants and poor essentially lived on vegetables (lentils, beans, onion, leeks, cress, turnips, cucumber, and nettles for spinach). During the Renaissance, some vegetables were resurrected like the carrot, asparagus, melon, spinach, petit pois, etc.
In the 16th and 17th century, the string bean and the Jerusalem artichoke appeared, while the 18th century saw the arrival of the pineapple and mango. These products were still very rare and consumed by the aristocracy.
In the 19th and 20th century, exotic products arrived on the dining table, such as bananas, pomelos (1950s), kiwi (1970s), avocado (1970s). In the 1980s, Rungis assisted the development of different products like mangos, limes, lychees, passion fruit, baby vegetables, fresh herbs, edible flowers or wild mushrooms.
Meat took off in the 14th and 15th century and was never eaten uncooked, for health and religious reasons. People ate game, poultry, mutton, goat, beef, pork, cooked meats and tripe. The consumption barely developed in the 18th century and actually decreased in the 19th century. In the 20th century, exotic meats (ostrich, emu, buffalo, etc.) started appearing.
Eating meat was banned by the Church for several days a year (158 days), so it was replaced by fish like herring, cod and eel for the poorer classes, while the most comfortably off ate trout, carp, fresh seafood, marinated fish or fish preserved in oil. Oysters and shellfish came back onto menus in the 19th century. Today, farmed fish is very prevalent.
In the Middle Ages, milk was hard to preserve so it was eaten as cheese. The growth of rail transport boosted cheese production and the arrival of European cheeses. Over the last fifty years, French dietary habits have changed considerably. The portion in volume of food has gone from 25% in 1960 to 15% in 2005. Today, health (fruit and vegetables) and pleasure are of greater concern and we eat more processed products (processed fruit and vegetables, dairy desserts) and fewer traditional products. Eating methods have also changed (less family meals around a table, more ‘snacking’ and fast food catering) depending on age and social categories.
The big move
The transfer from the central Les Halles de Paris to Rungis, called the “move of the century”, was conducted from 27 February to 3 March,1969. This involved about 20,000 people, 1,000 wholesale companies, 10,000 m3 of equipment, 5,000 tons of goods, 10,000 boxes of flowers and 1,500 trucks taking to the road. In the beginning, it was planned to use the army to carry out this operation but after consulting the people concerned, the decision was made to let each wholesaler handle their own move. The wholesalers in cut flowers and the potted plant producers led the procession, followed by the seafood wholesalers, those in fruit and vegetables and the dairy produce professionals. Despite the numbers of people involved and the goods transported, the ‘move of the century’ went off smoothly and Rungis Market was able to open on schedule. In January 1973n the meat products left the La Villette abattoirs to come to Rungis. From then on, all wholesale activities were concentrated at Rungis Market.
40th anniversary celebrations
The 40th anniversary will be celebrated throughout 2009 with many events and shows organized by Stratégie Gourmet and Semmaris.
From January to September, several educational actions will be run for school children (taste workshops, learning-play space, Market tours). In addition, a large photo exhibit called Les Gueules de Rungis (Rungis faces) will be organized on the walls of the Market in April.
3 mars 2009 : anniversary date and grand gala evening with the Crazy Horse review at Rungis.
Under the aegis of Stratégie Gourmet, the Market’s trade organizations have prepared a programme of festivities called La Fête du Frais (fresh produce party). From March to end June, Rungis clients and prospects will be able to enjoy competitions, gifts, music, street artists and decorations in all the pavilions.
23 - 25 septembre 2009 : 23 - 25 September 2009: Meeting of the World Union of Wholesale Markets and the 4th Entretiens de Rungis, on the theme: “What is the future of wholesale markets?”.
They were already at Rungis in 1969...
Antoine d'Agostino
(Manager of La Cave de Rungis - Rungis)
"I came to Rungis on 3 March 1969, as a retail buyer in fruit and vegetables and I only became a wholesaler of Rungis Market in 1988. The move was done in a weekend and we used to say at the time that it was the equivalent of the Normandy landings.
Rungis had to be built because at Les Halles de Paris you couldn’t even move around on foot and everything was done manually. Today, there are docks, pallet trucks, logistics platforms, computer systems. We witnessed the arrival of new products like the lychee or kiwi.
The clientele has really expanded and people come from far away, even from abroad. Rungis also made an important contribution to the development of off-season produce thanks to air transport. Rungis is the largest fresh produce wholesale market in the world, which is confirmed when you visit other wholesale markets abroad. In forty years, Rungis has changed for the better and it is still exemplary.
Daniel Archenault
(Manager of André Gilles – processed food sector- Rungis)
“I came to Rungis in 1969, at age 22, to create the company André Gilles. Mr Gilles owned a large abattoir in the Vendée region and had great faith in Rungis. My father Jules was a pork butcher and bought pigs from him for his abattoir in Villiers-sur-Marne.
From 1969 to 1973, it wasn’t easy because we were the only ones in our sector and we faced competition from La Villette. In 1973, with the arrival of meat products from La Villette at Rungis, things changed overnight and it really took off. All the butchers, delicatessens and caterers came to Rungis. Several elements were positive for Rungis, particularly the traceability of products and the food safety measures, the Euro which was a progress for import and export, the improvement of the Market’s infrastructure making Rungis an exceptional platform that groups all products in one location. Dedicated to export and all the clientele specific to the Paris region, Rungis is the origin of the great economic centre south of Paris.”
Maurice Baleux
(Honorary President of the CSCGFL, Board member of Unigros – fruit and vegetables sector - Rungis)
“I started in 1951 at Les Halles de Paris and I arrived in Rungis on 3 March 1969. Our company was located in the B2 pavilion of the fruit and vegetables sector. For us professionals, the first great innovation was computers with the first electronic invoicing machines, as well as the modern communication means (telephone, telex, fax, etc.).
At Rungis, we managed to develop our activity in the provinces and abroad whereas we were limited to produce from Ile-de-France. Here, we saw the arrival of new produce like exotic fruit or even tomato lines (with Savéol, for whom I was the chairman of the economic interest group at Rungis). And France discovered these products thanks to Rungis. With this opening to the world, our business changed. The professionals really developed international exchanges a lot because the infrastructures were perfectly adapted, and the services too (deliveries). Lastly, the refrigeration of the pavilions, the traceability, selection and quality of the produce helped Rungis become a benchmark.”
Yves Boccassini
(President of CAR – ex-manager of Boccasacs – accessories sector - Rungis)
“Since I came to Rungis, three stages have marked me: the transformation in the work and clientele, the modernization of the MIN infrastructure and the market’s opening to the world via communication.
At first, we used to work from 6 am to 7 pm with a French and especially regional clientele and we had less than 500 products. Today, we have nearly 5,000 listed products. We had to become more professional and adapt to the new regulations (packaging, conditioning, labelling).
The first fifteen years saw the change in the clientele (diversity of cultural identity) and the acceleration of transactions through shorter working hours and computerized invoicing.
The next fifteen years saw the modernization of the Market infrastructures and companies grouping/merging together.
The last ten years have seen the opening up of the MIN to the outside world through communication: food industry trade shows, visits to the Market, creation of our websites and the Semmaris portal.
After 40 years of faithful service, Rungis now has to plan its future.”
Maurice Desailly
(Chairman of Desailly, Vice-President of Sycopla, Board member of FNCPLA – dairy products sector - Rungis)
“Created at Les Halles de Paris by my grandfather, the company dates back to 1935. At the time we were forwarding agents and brokers. I joined the business in October 1956 and we arrived in Rungis on 3 March 1969. The move from Les Halles de Paris to Rungis went very smoothly, but the facilities were not completely finished. Other than our large traditional clientele, at that time we also supplied mass distribution, which was beginning to expand.
Unloading platforms, computerization, refrigeration and product traceability number among the important advantages of Rungis. These innovations allowed Rungis Market to ‘breathe’ and grow. We used to have 250 listed products at Les Halles de Paris, while we now have about 2,000 today. Also the communication campaigns by Semmaris helped give Rungis a very favourable image, which promotes exports. Furthermore, Rungis is a centralized market with an essential role in the retail trade. Naturally, all this also helped our own company’s growth because without Rungis we wouldn’t be here today.”
Guy Eschallier
(Agent for Mécarungis, Board member of FNICGV – meat sector - Rungis)
“The meat products arrived in Rungis in January 73, when they were supposed to be to La Villette. In fact, as the number of animals had dropped sharply, the La Villette project was abandoned. At Rungis, the working conditions were much better because the facilities provided were more modern (overhead pulley system, lifts, etc.).
After the BSE crisis (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in 1996, we had to upgrade to meet European standards. The V1P building was then completely renovated and operational by June 2000 (cold chain, compliance with food hygiene and safety standards). As of 1997, the traceability of carcasses had been introduced with the labelling of meats (barcodes) done upstream (breeding). The work stations were equipped with weighing machines that allowed you to print the barcode labels and sales terminals with optical scanners hooked up to the Mecarungis central cashier, so that all the data was copied onto the invoices issued for our members. Lastly, we developed different services such as delivery and international exchanges. Since Marc Spielrein became Chairman, things have changed a lot, particularly with the creation of the communication department. After forty years in business, the result is generally positive.”
Gérard François
(Founder and Chairman of Plantassistance, plant producer – horticulture sector - Rungis)
“Horticulture came to Rungis in March 1969. Here, with the rapid introduction of standards, the working conditions were much better than at Les Halles de Paris. I became a shareholder of Semmaris from the start because I felt it was only normal to assist this new organization. On my arrival, I had 54 m2 in the CoA building and 20 m2 under the C1. At the time, the sector numbered over three hundred professionals. In 1981, the companies were divided by two types of activity: the cut flowers activity and potted plants activity. Then, as of 1991, the classification as potted plant wholesaler was introduced. Afterwards I managed to set up my great greenhouse, baptised “Saint-Francis of the Flowers cathedral.” With over 2,000 listed products, this huge building under controlled temperature of 4,500 m2 fitted floor space is perfectly adapted to the plants’ material requirements and, for me, it represents a huge improvement.
Today, no market in the world can propose as many quality products as Rungis, which is a benchmark, specialized and increasingly cutting edge market. Very modestly, in my business, I am doing the same. Forty years later, Rungis has met the challenge successfully.
Michel Reilhe
(Ex-manager of Reilhe-Martin – poultry and game sector - Rungis)
“In the year the poultry and game sector came to Rungis, my father retired and I took his place. At that time, Les Halles de Paris was still reminiscent of Zola’s day. At Rungis, we entered the 21st century: cold chain, food safety, sales areas signposted, the latest office equipment, etc. It was a different life. We used to sell oven-ready chicken and it was a revolution for us. There was also a huge change with the segmentation and preparation of products. It was also the start of “Label Rouge” poultry and we ended up with some very good quality products. As a result, the sector moved upmarket. At the same time, computers and even the telephone were important advances. We could also say that Rungis Market helped professionals open up to the world and Mr Marc Spielrein, Chairman of Semmaris, has done a lot for this Market.”
Yvonne Rémond
(Manager of Ets Rémond – seafood sector - Rungis)
“I started at age 17 as a cashier at Les Halles de Paris. The company came to Rungis in 1969 under the name Guyot - Rémond . I remember that the works were not completely finished and the market had a lot of attendance at the time, causing traffic jams. Product traceability was a major progress and produce from abroad is stored under good conditions. Rungis has developed in a good way in forty years and the quality of the facilities contributes to the quality of the products.
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