France’s leader in fresh, frozen and tinned vegetables has just bought a factory in Alberta for the West Canadian market. Within minutes, tons of corn cobs are sorted, washed, frozen and packaged - ready for the Far West Canadian market.
Daniel Vielfaure, the Head of Bonduelle America says that it was logistics that incited him to open the factory, “Getting our vegetables grown in Ontario or Quebec then sent out here, in far-out Alberta, costed us 12 sous a kilo (€0.07)… with a 40 sous (€0.24) price, that’s enormous!” Instead of sending produce 3,000 km with 40 hours of lorries and trains, “it was better to buy a factory on site…” says Mr Vielfaure.
Mr Vielfaure says that there are “Zero GMO’s in our corn” and that phytosanitary products are “Limited to the minimum. Our agricultural engineers advise our producers”. He says the next step for Bonduelle would be the North USA.
Whilst a partnership with Géant Vert, globally recognised American brand, did not work out this summer, Bonduelle has other ideas up their sleeve, starting with their high quality reputation, food safety and environmental concerns. These factors are all part of their appeal in the eyes of large retailers : Sisco, Walmart, Safeway, Sobeys, GFS, Loblaws, T&T and Costco.