How was your company first established ?

Having learned the trade from his parents who worked as retail merchants at the Paris markets, my father set up at Rungis Market with my mother Yvonne, herself daughter of fruit and vegetable traders at the Halles de Paris. He then bought the Pascual company, specialising in apples, pears, strawberries, cherries, melons, etc. His next step was to form a partnership with Mr Raymond to create the company Raymond - Lemeunier which came to Rungis in 1969. My father separated from his business partner in 1972 and bought the Chastagnier firm in 1974. It was at this period that I joined the family business as my father needed my help. He retired in 1987 and I continued to work alone until 1997 when I and my neighbour Mr Jesus Llusar, director of Perez who was preparing his retirement, decided to merge our two companies. The company therefore became Perez-Lemeunier - exclusive distributor of the Spanish citrus fruit brands "Toi et Moi" and "La Violette".

How did the company develop ?

Being of a fairly independent frame of mind, I asked my father to give me free rein in developing the departments, guiding the company towards high-end products and building up a customer base with a strong attachment to these products. However, this meant that we eventually gained a level of quality that did not quite match the overall demand. I therefore reviewed the situation with my suppliers and asked them to slightly modify their working methods; many of them also accepted to review their tariffs. Thus, we were able to maintain a high-end customer base while still developing our sales volumes.

Which products do you sell ?

We sell around 6,000 tonnes of fruit, evenly sourced in France and Spain, which breaks down as 4,000 tonnes of citrus fruits, 1,000 tonnes of apples and pears and 1,000 tonnes of miscellaneous fruits such as cherries, grapes, apricots, strawberries and so on. We provide the same range of produce all year round, including Perlim brand apples. Our flagship products are citrus fruits (clementines, oranges), cherries, grapes (chasselas from Moissac and muscat from Ventoux), apples and pears. We serve Cours des Halles in Paris, various markets in Paris and its suburbs, some markets in the petite province (in the vicinity of the capital) and provincial wholesalers who distribute the "Toi et Moi" and "La Violette" brands. This represents 70% of standard sales and 30% of wholesale (excluding Rungis). We took advantage of the switch to the euro to develop products that had not previously interested consumers. Fruit prices are perfectly justified given their quality

In your opinion, what is the outlook for the fruit and vegetable market ?

Overall, consumption has fallen by about 30%-40% over the last ten years. However, the sector still lacks the means necessary to communicate effectively enough to curb the power of the major agro-food groups. We need to build up a more dynamic approach to showcasing our products. Supermarkets and hypermarkets currently capture 70% of the market against 30% for wholesale traders. I remain optimistic, but producers must be encouraged to develop a real expertise in taste. Our customers are demanding because consumers are very choosy about what they buy. We must avoid making products too commonplace as that would only lower the market. As such, wholesalers represent a genuine trade skill and are absolutely vital to the distribution circuit where their expertise is important to ensuring the best product is offered at the best price. Kiwis and other exotic products were introduced to and made popular with consumers through wholesaler traders.

What do you think about Rungis Market ?

It is still the world's largest market for fresh produce. The quality of the products combined with their sales volumes attracts a customer base found nowhere else. Despite this, there is a growing tendency to rely more on stocks and work less to tight flows. It is absolutely essential that we restore our former energy and drive. Our work tool means we are able to procure the freshest possible produce and secure very fast stock rotation times. Rungis, the fruit of a dedication to quality… is a reality that must last