Located in Ham (Somme) since 2005, Pomly packs and sells potatoes produced in the Picardy region.
The company packs 35,000 tons of potatoes each year. 75% of the producers are based in Picardy, but some are also located in the Beauce region, in French Catalonia and in Brittany. “We are even in contact with producers from Israel,” indicates Arnaud Lambert, president and business manager at Pomly.
“We distribute to wholesalers such as the MIN markets of Rungis or Lyon, but also to food retailers (Grand Frais, Système U) and restaurants. We are present in the big cities. We can ship 50 to 200 pallets a day.” Today, the company wishes to develop international export. “Potato production is more developed outside of France, especially in Germany. We currently sell 70% of our potatoes in France, but the volumes sold abroad increase each year. There are also new markets to conquer in the Middle East.”
The company is growing fast but is faced with difficulties in terms of recruitment. “It has been very difficult to recruit. The potato business is not very well known. We do not need graduates, only people who are willing to train and work in a team. The state of mind is essential,” explains Arnaud Lambert. “We have set up immersion periods of 15 days in the company. This way, job seekers can discover, on a voluntary basis, the different positions in the company. If the outcome is positive, they are then hired. Otherwise, this adds experience to their CVs for other job applications,” explains Stéphanie Bacco, director of the branch in Ham. Since September 2018, 10 permanent contracts have been signed for forklift operators, sorters and line operators.
Source: http://www.courrier-picard.fr