Philippe Bermudes (50 years old) followed in the footsteps of his father Paco, a Spanish immigrant who started out in 1947 with a small four-season barrow eventually becoming a wholesaler at Rungis Market in 1969 (building A2).
"I was just fourteen years old when the Halles de Paris moved to Rungis. My mother, who ran a clinic, insisted that I obtain my "B" baccalaureate (socio-economics) at boarding school. During the school holidays, I used to go to work with my father on a scooter. I left Paris at 11 p.m. to be at Rungis for midnight. I wasn't an enthusiastic student and soon got a taste for work and having money in my pocket. While completing my military service as a driver at the Military College, I worked at Rungis three nights a week. I served a five-year apprenticeship at my father's business, increasing my involvement over the last two years, to eventually run the business alone and develop it, allowing my father to move into real estate. I created my own company at the age of 23 after falling out with my father on business matters. I started out in a basement at building D3, my pride and self-esteem dictating that I refuse the easy option of taking advantage of my father's customer base. So, through hard work and determination, I finally started to establish my business and make headway. Initially I worked alone and had just one driver, then as business improved the company expanded to its present status of thirty employees. I am lucky to have a very solid team with an excellent working relationship. Some of them have been with me for twenty-five years now.
We have a fleet of twelve refrigerated lorries to deliver to our customers (1,300 including 90% restaurateurs and 10% caterers and small institutions). We make 450 circuits per day in greater Paris, with a few export deliveries to Harrods in London. Our customers know that with us they will always be delivered in good time. We sell thirty metric tons of fresh fruits and vegetables per day and also some ready-to-use fresh fruits and vegetables and prepared dishes, i.e. 350 references with very short use-by dates; we never sell frozen produce. Our first priority is the quality of our flagship products, mainly French, including salads, tomatoes, lemons, oranges, among others, i.e. 65% vegetables and 35% fruits.
Rungis is a definite one-off and I would like to congratulate the organisers for all their efforts. Having participated in seven Dakar rallies, ranked 3rd in the Paris-Peking and 33rd in the Paris-Cape Town, I can honestly say that Rungis is like the Dakar, a constant source of challenges. Nevertheless, I was not in favour of the decision to reduce opening hours which penalises customers, especially those from abroad".
