SIIM, the main branch of the group Omer-Decugis et Fils, is the official partner of the 50 year anniversary of the Rungis market. A symbolic partnership since the family business Omer-Decugis et Fils, founded in 1850 and oldest house of the Halles of Paris, has been established at the MIN of Rungis since its creation in 1969.
“At the time, it was my father Paul Omer-Decugis, a 4th generation of the family at the head of the company, who organized with Semmaris the transfer of our activities from the Halles of Paris to the MIN of Rungis, as the president of the Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers’ Union and of Unigros. I remember the turmoil. It meant leaving the heart of the capital to relocate to the edge of the city. It was necessary, at all costs and in record time, to make this historic evolution a success for our corporation, which was effective in 1969 but whose beginnings went back to before the second world war. I also remember the great excitement because the stakes were huge. The Parisian infrastructures were no longer able to support the development of the wholesalers and it was necessary to create a new platform for their growth,” explains Louis Omer-Decugis, president of the supervisory board for the group.
“The creation of the Rungis market was a visionary concept, still relevant fifty years later, it remains the largest fresh product market in the world. An exceptional longevity and a success which are a testimony of the constant renewal of the offer of the market to meet the new needs of a consumer society that is always evolving,” notes Vincent Omer-Decugis, chairman of the board of directors of the group and its operational leader since the transition from his father Louis in 2012.
“Given our history -170 years of existence in the fruit and vegetable trade - and our commitment to the Rungis market, it was only natural to be partners of this anniversary. Our group is a fervent supporter of the market’s model, which constitutes the main axis of our development in France.”
SIIM recently launched the construction of its brand new facilities of 129,167 square feet which will host, by 2020, all of its productive capacities (ripening, packaging) as well as the social headquarters of the group. A building which will be located in the warehouse area of the market.
“I am delighted with this partnership with the family business Omer-Decugis et Fils, through the SIIM branch, because it represents the continuity of a common history and shared ambition with Semmaris to promote and develop the wholesale trade, and more particularly, the world of fresh fruits and vegetables,” explains Stéphane Layani, president of the Rungis-Semmaris international market.
About SIIM
A producer, importer, ripener and distributor of tropical fruits and vegetables, the SIIM, branch of the group Omer-Decugis & Fils founded in 1850, is one of the references of the European market and a leader in Africa. Present in production in Africa and Latin America, SIIM has its own distribution network in France and in Spain from where it serves all the European markets. It proposes its specific expertise in ripening (bananas, mangoes, papayas, avocados) and therefore offers a range of bananas and exotic fruits of guaranteed maturity from its ripening platform in Rungis. An engaged actor at each stage of the value chain, from production to distribution, SIIM is renowned for its high demands in terms of quality and food safety (IFS Food certification, OEA accreditation). SIIM is a member of the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), adheres to the United Nations Global Pact and supports the Rainforest Alliance.
For more information: 
SIIM
emeline@siim.net
www.siim.net