CMR Infinita is emphasising its positive track record during the last year and it is making a categorical commitment to its Aurum brand in pre-ripened mangos and avocados
Jesús López, the Sales Manager at CMR Infinita, talked to Fruit Today euromagazine about this development and other issues.
How has 2021 unfolded for CMR Infinita in Madrid?
2021, with all the circumstances occurring throughout the year, was a year in which we managed to continue growing, as has constantly happened over the last few years.
From the summer onwards, a generalised increase in costs could be seen, which has been worsened, if possible, by the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict.
2022 is uncertain for everyone, but we hope that the correct steps are taken and things will get back to normal as soon as possible.
As a company that is so specialised in counter-season products, what instruments do you use to sidestep the serious problems with maritime transport, the increase in freight charges and in general, of all raw materials?
The problems derived from the high maritime freight prices started with the outbreak of the pandemic and all the companies that manage international freight flows were affected, to some extent or other.
The conflict in Ukraine and subsequent international sanctions are causing shipments originally destined for Russia and Ukraine to be redirected towards the European market, which could generate new price pressure on the markets. However, our experience in managing international transport, fruit and vegetable exports and imports for decades is allowing us to mitigate these problems somewhat.
What feelings were there, and how did the marketing of Canary Island bananas go during the months of the volcanic eruption? What volumes of both bananas and plantains passed through your ripening rooms?
For La Palma, bananas represent their main source of income. The island and its farmers, amongst which we have a large number of shipping partners, offer a high-quality product, which maintains its famous characteristics and properties intact.
At CMR, our position was based on accompanying the shippers from the island on the harsh journey that they were on, doubling our efforts to obtain a fair marketing of the product, defending its quality, correct selling and fast, safe payment.
In our ripening rooms at CMR INFINITA in Mercamadrid, we ripen an almost equal amount of 50% Canary Island produce and 50% plantains. In total, approximately 30 million kilos. Around 32 lorries of bananas and plantains leave these installations every week.
There is also room for exotic fruit in your ripening rooms. Which is the fruit that shows the best behaviour?
The commitment we made to pre-ripened, ready-to-eat avocados, under our extra brand AURUM, has been a complete success.
We have managed to offer a top-quality product, perfectly presented and in ideal conditions for eating, thanks to the strict selection filters and controls throughout the entire ripening and selling process that the market has known how to value and appreciate.
This same year, we have incorporated pre-ripened mangos to the AURUM extra-quality offer, following the same careful processes and care that have been successfully applied to our avocados.
You have an important pillar in melons from Brazil, using a well-known brand. Do you think that the new consumer trends could limit the fashion of being on the supermarket shelves 12 months of the year and start to move towards a more consolidated commitment to local produce?
No, not at all. Local produce and counter-season produce can live side-by-side on the shelves. They are two different categories that rather than damage each other are complementary. Consumers can buy local produce when it is available, but if there isn’t any in our latitude, obviously, we have to find the best quality produce elsewhere. This is what we do, for example, with our counter-season Cosa Rica melons that reach Europe from October until the end of April, when the Spanish production comes into play.
Starting from Madrid, where are the most important markets for Infinita?
Owing to our geographical location and to the road networks in Spain, we can cover all the different regions on the mainland and in Portugal in a short period of time, except for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the neighbouring areas, which are covered by our central offices in Barcelona, FRUITS CMR, which given their location can serve this area with greater ease, as well as the European markets.
