How did you start your career ?

I worked in the catering business for a long time before joining the wine trade. In 1908, my grandmother Angéline opened a small inn at L’Epine, near Chalons en Champagne (51), called “Pérardel - Loge à pied, Loge à cheval”. She use to make wonderful dishes from chicken, rabbit and other game for the clients passing through and devotees of her cuisine. My mother Thérèse took over in 1946 and the inn became a well-known restaurant under the name “Au Rallye de Lorraine”, bordering the RN 3 trunk road. I got my taste for cooking from my mother and my passion for this profession has never left me. I left school at 16 to learn the business. After several apprenticeships, I returned to the family business in 1962, as chef and then manager. Renamed “Aux Armes de Champagne” after a fire, the restaurant still serves a wonderful regional cuisine, using quality produce bought at Rungis. Since 1974, the restaurant was awarded one star from Michelin and two from Bottin Gourmand.

How did you get into the wine trade ?

I opened the first Pérardel Wine Market in L’Epine in 1983. At the time, we had decided to diversify by creating a retail wine business, next to the hotel-restaurant, and our range included products from all over France. Then we opened stores in Reims, Beaune, Calais, Strasbourg and Metz, which were very successful, with good reviews in the French and international press (including New York Wine Cellar, written by Stephen Tanzer). For our store in Beaune, under the name “Pérardel Grands Vins de France”, we selected the best Burgundy wine-growers. In 2001, I sold all my stores and in 2006 I started up as a wholesaler under the name “1000 Vins, wholesaler” at Rungis, because I knew this market well as I’d been coming here for twenty five years.

How do you operate ?

To get the best selection, we test all the products that come in. I personally taste over 3,000 bottles a year. No product is there by accident and our selection from all the vineyards in France is very rigorous. Of course, I am particularly familiar with Burgundy vineyards since I spent over ten years in Beaune. So I have naturally built up a line of the best wines from Burgundy at Rungis (from Côte de Beaune whites like Meursault, Chassagne, Puligny-Montrachet, to Côte de Nuits Saint-Georges reds like Pommard, Volnay, etc.) not to mention Chablis, Pouilly-Fumé and all the others. We are keen to find the best value for money. So among the smaller appellations the wine-growers will offer better prices, which we pass on to our clients. While the line is our signature, our first job is listening to our clients. We advise them, which is why my excellent colleagues, Sébastien, Vincent and Maxime, also come from the catering business. Our selection is based on the wine’s reputation, the client’s need, our own perception and good deals. The most in demand on our list are the champagnes, and Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. We also have a range of organic wines for which there is growing demand, and little known “niche” wines.

What is your growth strategy ?

Our development depends on a greater attractiveness, through a wider variety of products, within the broadest possible price range. In our company, a wine worth €2 is subject to the same rigorous selection as a wine at €200. We also have to attend more trade shows and events, develop our supplier network and logistics (expand our platform, permanent inventory, etc.), step up our presence at wholesale markets outside Rungis and exports, better communication, a specific line for mid and top-range catering, etc.

What is your view of the wine market ?

The market is still very attractive. Champagne is thriving, traditional Bordeaux wines are excellent value for money and the great Bordeaux wines are very much in demand, almost to the point of shortages. The same is true for the wines from Burgundy and other regions. We are nonetheless seeing a slight drop in the consumption of middle range wines. In addition, the competition from New World countries producing cheap wines is increasingly strong, so the export market for French products at entry-level is tough.

What is your opinion of Rungis Market ?

I have known Rungis Market since 1972 and I used to come here as a client for twenty five years. Like the great wines, Rungis is a top-of-the-range market. It is a place that is known worldwide and highly appreciated, a qualitative benchmark that has no equivalent as far as I know.