Catherine Lesmayoux represents the third generation of packaging professionals, a sector she’s been “wrapped up” in since early days.

“My father and grandfather started out at the Halles de Paris producing packaging for creameries. Then my father set up at Rungis in the Fresh Seafood sector producing packaging for fishmongers. That’s where I started with him, working for Edelweiss. That was 1986, just after my baccalaureate. I started out looking after the work clothes section, in a little side shop they had bought. I took over REM (Rungis Emballages et Matériels - Rungis Packaging and Materials) in 1999, run at the time by Mr and Mrs Lambert. Things were easier for me as I already knew the job inside-out, and my turnover progressed. I worked in synergy with my father, especially on bags. We made complete containers, just the two of us, whichallowed me to price competitively. Today, the company employs four people. Our customers are mainly early produce, fruit and vegetable and Cours des Halles retailers, divided equally between shops and the markets. Our flagship product (80% of sales) is packaging: paper and plastic bags. Although attractive paper bags are becoming more popular, plastic bags still record the highest sales.

It also depends on the season : retailers use paper bags for red fruits in summer, and more plastic bags in winter. We also sell a lot of punnet packaging in summer. Other products include baskets, slate boards, mats, oilcloth, everything they need for arranging their shops. Waste bins at Christmas, for example. We now have a wide range of clothes and printed t-shirts, caps, warm clothes, aprons, shirts, smocks, etc. Major customers also order jackets from us. For the last two or three years, t-shirts have been "going" well in summer. Clothing is very important in the food business, and we do small runs of made-to-measure, made-to-order clothing, adding hems, colour embroidering, names, etc. We generally sell around 5 or 6 pallets of products every week. We want to continue to develop, and we are set to launch a new range of products based on regulations and the development of the market. Rungis is a dynamic, key location, a meeting place for everyone. Rungis is a must-see place for accessories...".