A farmer's son from the Compiègne region, Frédéric Bonnard (37 years old) showed a strong commercial leaning from an early age. By the age of ten, he was already selling fruits and vegetables from the family garden to neighbouring campers…

"After completing an agricultural technician's licence and a higher technician's licence specialising in the distribution of agricultural commodities and agro-food products, I joined Lunor (vacuum-packed potatoes) at the age of twenty-two as a sales representative. I then went to Ribeprim where, from the age of twenty-four, I spent the next thirteen years as Sales Manager for Boots Frites France (with its headquarters in the Netherlands). One of our distributors was a company called Dessertenne Distribution, established at Rungis since 1969. In 1998, I proposed the buy-out of this company to my Dutch Management, and was appointed Manager in April 1999. Following the sale of Boots Frites France to the Aviko Group, I accepted a post at Rungis as an employee of Dessertenne as of 1 September 2002. Alongside fresh chips, our flagship product, I decided to develop the semi-processed product sector, which did not exist at that time. This includes vacuum-packed potatoes, fruit salads, etc., which represent some 4,000 metric tons per year. The other products include potatoes, garlic, onions and shallots for a volume of 4,000 metric tons per year, 50% of which is potatoes. I also developed the large vegetable range to meet the demand from customers who wished to make their purchases at the one address: turnips, leeks, cabbages, carrots, etc., i.e. 1,500 metric tons per year.

Finally, the latest products on offer since February 2004 are aromatic herbs, following a distribution partnership agreement with the company Maroc Fines Herbes. Currently, we sell between 15,000-20,000 bunches per day. This initiative provides an opening for Maroc Fines Herbes, which wanted to get a footing on the Producers Trading Floor. Our company has nine employees, with four preparing the orders, two in the administrative department and three sales representatives like myself. Our customer base comprises 40% wholesalers and semi-wholesalers across France, and 60% stall keepers, Cours des Halles and retailers. Our range covers some fifty-odd products, including many varieties of potato (5 and 25 kg bags). The best thing about this market is that, whatever product is on the stand, there is always a customer who is interested. We can sell anything and everything here! The strength of Rungis Market lies in its outstanding commercial appeal. Despite having been here for only two years, I have every confidence in the future of Rungis Market as the Semmaris Management have invested heavily in modernisation, with the Producers' Trading Floor being a prime example. I am very happy to be a part of this, it really is a wonderful opportunity…"