After strengthening itself on the Swiss market, Europlátano is facing up to a new challenge: internationalisation
After successfully tackling the demanding Swiss market, the company from La Palma has started to market its produce in France with Biocoop, a leading company in the distribution of ecological food in the neighbouring country. Therefore, the challenge is double: captivating French customers with the flavour of the Canary Islands and additionally, doing so with an ecological product.
During the first week of 2018, the loading volume had already doubled due to the produce’s good reception.
Biocoop, which has a network of 421 shops, is a distribution company with a very clear philosophy: promoting ecological crops and doing this fairly, in such a way that, first the farmer and then all other agents that form part of the chain receive a correct payment for their work. Its aim is to build a common sustainable project over time.
The importance of the source
The source of the produce has been important for Biocoop when making their commercial commitment, but there are other factors that determine the choice: the correct certification, the control of the treatments in the fields, the traditional work by hand, the care in the handling of the produce, the commitment to the local economy… Apart from all this, there is another key factor, such as the proximity of the production place to the point of consumption, minimising the carbon footprint.
“This aspect is taking on increasing commercial importance, since we are the closest banana production area that Continental Europe has, with a produce supply that is non-stop every week of the year,” sources from the company from the Canary Islands explain.
Continuing with the expansion on the European market has encouraged the fact that Europlátano’s sales volume will reach 58,000 tonnes in 2017.
