The Car Rimini agri-food centre is currently undergoing a transformation with the financial support of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). According to the current timeline, operations are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2025, as stated by the Director, Cinzia Furiati. "A series of interventions have been planned with the aim of enhancing the services offered, while also prioritising sustainability and cost savings through the implementation of a photovoltaic system."
Cinzia Furiati director of the CAAR
Furiati has been with Caar since its establishment in 2003 and has been its director for several years. "From my own background, I believe that respect for the rules is fundamental in all situations, and a wholesale market should not be an exception. However, it must be recognised that tensions can arise between the parties involved, especially when new systems are introduced, as is often the case. It is important to recognise that certain decisions are taken with a view to improving the system."
The CAAR consists of 24 wholesalers and around a hundred farmers. "A factor that contributes to the vitality of the market is that all available space is fully utilised. The customer base of the traders is mainly made up of shop owners and vendors, with supermarkets constituting a smaller segment of their clientele. Restaurateurs and hoteliers on the Riviera also buy from the CAAR, although not to the extent one might expect."
Aerial view of the CAAR
On the issue of opening hours, changes at the Rimini market do not seem to be a priority at present. The market currently opens at 5 a.m. (4.30 a.m. on Mondays) and closes at 11 a.m., a time that meets the requirements of wholesalers and customers.
As for the NPPR, a 10 million euro investment is planned for the renovation of the facilities, air conditioning, and an increase in photovoltaics through the addition of storage batteries to reduce the electricity bill, new shelters, and other facilities. "Hopefully, all deadlines will be met and there will be no bureaucratic problems," says the director.
Furiati in one of the Caar's galleries
CAAR has joined the Emilia Romagna Market Network, which also includes Bologna, Parma and Cesena. I believe that networking is important, especially when thinking about business relationships with foreign countries. For example, the mission to Singapore showed us that certain long-life products can be exported with a reasonable margin. In February we are going on a mission to Dubai to try to set up something with the importers in that area.
The market is also very active on the logistics front. "In less than two years, 1172 tons of fruit and vegetables have been collected under the European surplus legislation. This means that we are not talking about wasted fruit, but the fruit of the highest quality, which is paid to the producer organisations and the association of producer organisations to be distributed to people in need. Cinzia Furiati concludes: "In Rimini, there is an association that works with Caar and then distributes to 40 other associations, for a total of about 5200 people."
For more information:
C.A.R. S.P.A.
47922 Rimini (RN) - Italy
Tel.: +39 0541 682131
[email protected]
www.caar.it