The year 2024 will mark a new stage in the history of France Food. Specialized in the production, shipping and marketing of strawberries and red fruit since 1978, the company recently acquired Fruits Rouges du Périgord. This was certainly an opportunity to strengthen and develop its core business, but also to diversify into the chestnut and nut sector.
"This family business, which began its history with strawberry trading nearly 50 years ago, wants to revitalize a sector (chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts) that has been suffering for some years in the southwest of France. We were keen to put our experience to good use in order to develop this sector, which is similar in some respects to that of strawberries and red fruit. Behind the sale of chestnuts, walnuts and hazelnuts, there are producers who work with passion. Today, there is a real need to revitalize the sector, and that is a challenge we want to take up," explains Bruno Rouquette, who joined France Food more than three years ago and manages the Aiguillon site.
Strawberries, red berries and nuts: two sectors with complementary seasonal patterns
Investing in the Capdrot site was also an opportunity for the company to complement the activities of its Aiguillon site, which is highly seasonal, as it concentrates the production of French strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and redcurrants. "It is the biggest marketer of French strawberries in France (almost 6,000 tons), a fruit that takes up 8 months of the year. We then have 4 quieter months, so we wanted to optimize with other products with different seasonal characteristics. Chestnuts and nuts were the ideal candidates. They complement the 8 months of full activity."
High-performance machinery to improve quality
For France Food, revitalizing the sector also means rehabilitating the production facilities. "The Capdrot site has machines entirely dedicated to chestnuts and nuts, and it would be a shame not to bring this equipment back into service, as it is in very good condition. For example, we have a unique machine that is capable of destroying fungi and any parasites in chestnuts, thus drastically reducing health problems without any treatment, based solely on a system of waves. This is an industrial machine developed by a company in the Dordogne department, and we have high hopes for it."
Guaranteeing better product quality to develop the sector
Thanks to this machine, France Food will be seeking to guarantee better quality chestnuts, which is one of the key areas for developing the sector. "There is a real awareness of the need to improve quality and safety."
A good chestnut year ahead
"We started harvesting last week. It will continue until the end of October for the latest varieties. So far, the quality looks good this year, and the first volumes are selling well. The autumn weather is encouraging consumption," explains Valentin Trabelsi, sales manager at France Food. "The harvest is rather small for the early varieties, down by 30% from last year, but the sizes obtained are well above the normal average, which should be an advantage on the French and export markets." Although France Food intends to produce chestnuts for the French market, the company also has plans to export to Europe.
Exploring the processing market
France Food does not intend to focus solely on the fresh market. "Processing outlets are growing and we will have to explore them. The idea is to keep the larger sizes for the fresh market and direct the smaller ones towards the processing market." This objective coincides with one of the company's values, which is to make the most of all sizes in order to limit the losses. "We make it a priority at France Food to always take the whole harvest and generate very little waste. It is important that the producers get something out of it. We make it a point of honour to support our producers, who are true partners without whom we would not exist."
France Food will be present at Fruit Attraction from October 8th to 10th, 2024 (Hall 9, Booth 9G14).
For more information:
Valentin Trabelsi
France Food
Phone: +33(0)7 88 84 52 14
[email protected]
www.france-food.com