“Consumption trends are shifting and reducing the reaction time is a key requirement to meet the demand of retailers or large distributors. To compete, we must be able to ship the fruit in better conditions. Our investment in greater refrigeration capacity at Mercamadrid is a key step to adapt to a changing market,” says Esther Sánchez, manager of Frutas E. Sánchez.
Since very recently, Frutas E. Sánchez, a fruit and vegetable production, packaging, marketing, exporting and importing company, has new facilities at Mercamadrid. Its 12,000 m² are distributed over four plants with 200 workers.
According to Esther Sánchez, the new facilities will make it possible to centralize the operations, optimizing resources and reducing costs, which will result in a better response to the client. “The reaction time is vital, and was the reason for renovating the facilities. The sales system of Mercamadrid and Mercabarna is changing. It is important to meet the needs of the consumer by offering fruit in optimal conditions and reducing the reaction time when dealing with retailers.”
This expansion has been carried out in response to the growth of its market share. It currently handles some 140,000 tons of fruit, with the main products being apples, pears, kiwifruit, citrus fruits and stone fruit.
This 60 year old company with 100% family capital has its own farms in Aragon and Chile. Its headquarters are in Madrid and it is present in both Mercabarna and Mercamadrid.
“In 2019, we have expanded the banana business line. It is a fact that the demand is increasing. As regards cherries, Chilean exports to China continue to increase. Spain could also export to China, but the protocols are not yet ready,” says the manager of Frutas E. Sánchez.
Frutas E. Sánchez was the first Mercamadrid company to obtain permits for the organic line in 2006. “The current scenario is very different; we are moving from exporting almost the entire organic volume to selling in an increasingly consolidated domestic market, and costs are being reduced. There is rising awareness and the Spanish market is consuming more organic products. Hopefully, this will lead to a reduction in the price differential.”
The new headquarters will centralize all operations, logistics and services. With a turnover of 150 million Euro per year and 350 workers, it has a delegation in Chile; a country that accounts for 20% of its turnover. Frutas E. Sánchez imports from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, South Africa, the US, Canada, China and New Zealand.
The export market accounts for 20% of the firm's turnover, and the focus is on all of Europe and North Africa, although it does not rule out continuing to expand.
Frutas E. Sánchez will be present at Fruit Attraction (10D05).
For more information:
Esther Sánchez, manager
Frutas E. Sánchez
Mercamadrid, Commercial Dep.
NAVE C Puestos 5–7–9
28053 Madrid
T: +34917866576
F: +34917853590
frutas@frutasesanchez.com
www.frutasesanchez.com