Born in Paris, Claire Rubod followed her family to Chevilly-Larue at an early age. After secondary education and a certificate in commerce-accounting, she started work as an accountant in a large insurance group in Paris. She only stayed six months, as the company moved to the provinces but she was soon taken on in a dairy products company of the Rungis Market, when it opened. After two years of good loyal service, in 1971 she joined Ardente, a great name in the cut flower sector, in the accounting department. Only a year and half into this activity, the company failed and she decided to join up with one of the former employees, Mr. Jacques Beurton, who had created his own company… "I've always been mad about flowers, so I left accounting for the sales department, having learned all about flowers from purchasing to selling. There were three of us in the business and we sold all flowers, but especially roses and pretty flowerets from the Midi. I stayed twenty-five years with Mr. Beurton, who retired in 1997. Then I took over the name keeping the customers and suppliers including some fifteen in the Midi as they specialised in the beautiful Midi flowers: anemone (Galileo, Jerusalem, Mona Lisa…), buttercups, violet, comomile, Midi tulips, Hyères rose, mimosa… Overall, there are 180 items in the range of which the flagship products are roses (passion, magnum, prestige, anna), gerbera, germini, snapdragon, lilies, bird-of-paradise, all from the Midi.

Roses come top (1200 bunches/week) and represent 60% of net sales. I do very few Dutch flowers and no foliage. As incoming deliveries are almost daily, our flowers are very fresh and the prices include discounts for quantities purchased. Together with my employee, Daniel, we serve just over 250 customers from Paris, Ile de France and the provinces and divided fifty-fifty between shop florists and market florists. Being on the Rungis Market since its opening, I've appreciated its exceptional role and position. However, I think that we are losing customers because of the development of highly-organised Dutch professional deliveries. Nevertheless, the Rungis Market remains very attractive since the best products come to Rungis from France and the whole world…".