January 12, 2017

Del Monte to build first facility in France

Del Monte will invest a total of €7 million in its first facility in France. The new facility will process 22 tons of raw materials a day, according to the company. The fruit and vegetables that will be processed in the future factory in Croixrault (Somme) will include carrots, onions, cucumbers, aubergines, tomatoes, apples, pears and pineapples.

The company will have about 150 employees by 2018 and 30 or so temporary workers, according to Del Monte. The factory will be supplied with production from 150 local farmers that will have multi-year contracts with Del Monte, of which the durations are still under negotiation.

Exotic fruits, such as pineapples from Costa Rica, will be delivered via neighboring ports — notably Anvers, which is directly accessible via the A16 or A1 motorways.

“Croixrault is mid-way between our supply hubs and the Paris region, the main consumption zone,” said Eric Hellot, president of Del Monte Fresh and Fresh Cut France. “The speed of delivery is crucial in ensuring short best-before dates.”





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