If ordering a burger from one of the 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants in France, it is more than likely that the salad in it is supplied by Florette, subsidiary of the French cooperative Agrial, based in Caen (Normandy). Florette has three production sites : Brittany (Sain-Pol-de-Léon), Pyrénées-Orientales and Spain.
Rémi Rocca, Purchasing Manager for McDonald’s France says that “We buy 17,000 tons of salad a year, of which 80% is from Florette. Notably iceberg for the burgers, because it stays crunchy when in contact with hot food, but also batavia for the salads, such as the Chicken Caesar.”
The fast food chain says that 70% of their agricultural produce is French.
The fast food chain says that 70% of their agricultural produce is French.
Florette is the leader in ready to eat vegetables and fresh cut produce, 10% of their salad sales are to McDonald’s. Their 30 year partnership with the American multi-national has just had a boost thanks to a new contract, that the Director of Florette Food Service, Pierre Méliet, says depends is for 300 tons of batavia per year, for three years. A fixed price will secure the producers.
The contract will supply 50% of McDonald’s requirements over the summer, the other half will be yearly contracts. Bernard Guillard, President of the vegetable Producer’s Organisation (OP), Agrial (200 producers) says that, “In 2017, 10 or so producers from the vegetable OP, Agrial, will enter a contract for McDonald’s to buy 500 tons of iceberg per year, for two years. We produce 120,000 tons of vegetables, of which 40% is under contract. Only carrots and leeks are sold on a day to day basis”.
Whilst long term contracts give farmers stability, they can still “speculate” the everyday market for some of their production. “But when we know our prices for three years, it is easier to invest. In new greenhouses, for example,” explains Pierre Méliet. Ludovic Spiers, Agrial’s Director General says that “the contract prices are higher in average than the market. This contract with McDonald’s, one of our most demanding clients, develops our offer”. McDonald’s demands traceability and respect for the environment.