Growing pains
Applying the new entry system wasn't easy. "Beforehand we through that this could be realised quickly, but we were wrong. There are still technical growing pains that have to be fixed. We expect the system to be up and running by the summer. All in all we are satisfied with the introduction and it also improves the safety of the traders, as well as the visitors themselves."
New commercial centre
A different project the European centre is involved in, is the new Docks Bruxsel. "A completely new large shopping centre will be built next to our site, which will be ready in October this year. There will be clothes stores, restaurants, cinemas and much more. At the moment they are still working on the construction. The reason we are so involved in this project is that it is being partially built on our site. There will be a roundabout between the buildings of the European Centre and Docks Bruxsel. This will also get us a new entrance." The influence of the shopping centre isn't expected to be as large when it comes to the trade in the European centre. "Of course it's a huge change and the Centre will become more well known with such a great building next to us. The neighbourhood and the view will become much more pleasant due to this. We will also be more easily accessible with the new entrance." Click here for the Docks Bruxsel website.
Long term
Nuttin sees the future of the market positively. "We should soon get the agreement from the city of Brussels to stay here after 2028. Traders are also looking forward to this. There are sometimes negative reports on the future of the Centre, but we believe in it. Together with our traders we buckle up and continue to invest in the building and the trade of fruit and vegetables in the long term."
Collaboration with Mabru
The director indicates that there are concrete plans to expand the collaboration with Mabru, the wholesale market on the other side of EC. "The traders there start earlier than here, around midnight. We won't change anything when it comes to opening times, but we want to make passage between the two buildings easier, so that trade can be carried out to and from the two buildings, with both small and large transport methods. Mabru and the European Centre have different customers. There is no talk of forming one market, we will look for more synergies."
Thierry Nuttin will have been working as the director for the European Centre for 20 years in 2017. "It's still a great job. I learn new things every year. He laughs: "Sometimes we estimate the scale of certain projects as too small, but we figure it out in the end. It's a good challenge to solve and realise different things."
For more information:
Thierry Nuttin
European Centre for fruit and vegetables
Secretariaat: Middenpleintje
Werkhuizenkaai, 112-154
Brussel - Belgium
www.cefl-ecfg.be/nl