CMR forms part of the core of companies that made the move from the Borne Market to the current unit. Jordi Martí, national sales manager explains what this change meant.
CMR is one of the ‘historic companies’ in this market and one of the few that experienced the change from the Borne market to these premises 50 years ago. What did this change mean?
CMR was already operating in the Borne Market and in fact had been long before, as the company’s origins date back to 1879. The company is currently being managed by the fifth generation.
The Borne Market had a seasonal offer, based on national produce, in line with a uniform demand which barely had enough fruit and vegetables within its reach for basic food. Currently, however, the offer comes from over 40 countries and is available throughout the entire year.
Furthermore, both the transport and the storage systems have been modernised and now fresh produce can be kept, wherever it comes from, without breaking the cold chain and maintaining it in perfect conditions for marketing.
When did you see the need or the demand by customers to start up the expansion as an importer? What decade are we talking about?
Our first imports were pineapples from the Azores, back in the 1960s. From the 1980s onwards we started to work on a large scale, owing to the progress made in the conservation installations and the logistics.
Furthermore, taking advantage of this experience in imports, we have been able to meet the needs of new groups of immigrants who are used to eating produce that is not normal in our diet.
Could you imagine that one day the market would include traders with different nationalities?
The presence of traders with different nationalities on our stands, as well as in our export team, is aimed at covering the needs of other destinations, since we are living in a global market. Foreign communities that have settled in our society have generated the chance to focus on their consumption characteristics, offering them a service that fits in with their food culture.
