For the last 15 years, fruit wholesaler, Canavese, have chosen to have their containers delivered to Dunkirk and Anvers, but they have now decided to go back to the South, to Marseille. The 2,000 containers of exotic fruit delivered annually are then sent to their ripening platforms in Marseille, Aubagne and Valence. Until now the transfer from the ports to the ripening platforms was done using a refigerated lorry, on average costing an extra €1,000. Every Tuesday, a container shopping freighted by CMA CGM will deliver the cargo from Western Africa to Marseille, via Tanger. Marseille had completely lost this transport route, which in the 60’s made their fortune. Last year, Marseille Fos treated 547,000 tons of fruit and vegetables, up 6.5% compared to 2013. The Head of the terminal, Sebastian Latz, explains that “this historical banana comeback is the occasion to attract other products from the sector”.
Five years ago, the Marseillais trader turned to production and planted 600 hectares in the Souss, near Agadir and Berkane, the “clementine Province” in the North East of Morocco. “Production now reaches 9,500 tons and should double in 2017, securing and guaranteeing the quality of our supply”, explains President of the company, Gérard Canavese. The orchard is rented for 40 years and employs 130 personnel. The trader invested just over €3 million into irrigation and soil enriching. The fruits are labeled under his own brand, Kini Citrus. The company controls the choice of varieties, ensuring continuous supply all season. They also produce fruit in the Ivory Coast, with 2,500 hectares of banana and pineapple plantations and 1,730 employees working to produce 53,000 tons of fruit destined for the European market. These developments strengthen the group’s growth in France, where they now have seven logistics platforms. According to the group, they have a €130 million turnover, of which €20 million is from exports, and 450 employees.