Florette Food Service has 320 employees on their site in Torreilles. Their factory does not produce smoke or pollution as on their 19 production lines installed over 9,000m2, they only work with natural products : fruits, vegetables, and mainly ready to eat salad.
It is called the 4th range, “invented” here by Bernard Langlais and his wife in 1984. At the time the company was called Crudi and offered the first ready to eat salad in packets.
As part of the national cooperative that brings together 3,600 employees, the factory in Toreilles is the historic supplier of Mac Donald's, a client that demands fresh, high quality products for their consumers all over France.
Florette cleans, cuts and packages 25,000 tons of natural products each year. 35% of the 15,000 tons of Batavia come from the Pyrénées Orientales region. The rest comes from Spain or regions in the North of France. 70% of Florette’s agricultural partners have been working with them for over 10 years. Trust and fidelity are key in Torreilles.
Whilst Iceberg lettuce was the star of their production chains to start with, today rocket is just as present as it appeals to households and restaurants such as the Pataterie, Buffalo-Grill and even Ikea or air services. If you travel Air France and have a salad it is more than likely that it was prepared in Torreilles.
2 million people per day consume products made by Florette. The future is bright for the company who have just celebrated their 30th birthday. The factory intends to employ between 35-40 more people in 2015, because although their activity is seasonal, the demand is constant year round.
Following their success with salads, the factory in Torreilles would like to now turn to desserts, to fresh fruits. A good initiative to maintain their leading position in the fresh ready to eat sector. This is why the heads of the company have already budgeted €3 million for investments.
Facts and figures:
320 employees on site in Torreilles, 40 or so more in 2015.
€3 million investments planned for 2015.
Clients: Mac Donald’s France, La Pataterie, Air France, Ikea, Buffalo-Grill, numerous catering services.
25,000 tons of products, of which 15,000 tons are salad.
€65 million turnover in 2012 with €74 million objective in 2014.