Investment policy –2008 report

SEMMARIS has an investment policy that aims to simplify operations for Rungis Market companies. In 2008, this policy continued to be implemented on all fronts: rail transport, renovation and construction of buildings, traffic, etc.

The works on the rail terminal that began in 2007 continued throughout 2008, resulting in the commissioning of a first platform on 15 April 2009, with a second due to open in mid-July 2009. The Regional Council, General Council, SEMMARIS and SNCF have co-funded this flagship project, which costs over twenty million euros. It will provide a transhipment hub for whole trains to handle the present capacity of 200,000 tons per annum, which can later be expanded to 600,000 tons.
All this has been done under optimum conditions in terms of handling, while limiting the risk of loss or delays; trains can now be unloaded in thirty minutes, compared to two hours previously, thus preserving the quality of the products. Furthermore, this terminal should be optimized, by ensuring it can receive trains from new locations and by developing goods freight on the return trip.

Meeting special needs

2008 also saw the continued modernization of the Market’s buildings, in line with operators’ stated needs. Consequently, after an initial investment of eight million euros in this effort, SEMMARIS delivered the second phase of the DE2 building in the Eurodelta zone to SDV, which expanded its premises from 3,000 to 6,000 square metres in leaving the DE3, while adding a 400-square metre negative cold room. Construction of the DE1 building in the same zone will begin in September. Furthermore, one quarter of the D3 building in the fruit and vegetable area has been upgraded to make 1,000 square metres of its basement accessible to commercial vehicles. For a cost of half a million euros, SEMMARIS has therefore built a first module that can be duplicated to open up unused basements, either for operators already established on the floor above or for other businesses, such as buyers or logistics companies, for example. Another worksite, the VIP building, has been equipped with a workshop for cutting meat and making minced meat for Busnel Brévier, which can now deliver the catering trade or retailers with the products most suited to their need.  500 square metres of floor space plus storage space for packaging have therefore been supplied for an investment of 900,000 euros. Similarly, the Dexpa warehouse was renovated, including 800 square metres of storage space and 140 square metres of office space, with four loading bays fitted with airlocks and levellers for an investment of 1.15 million euros.

Modernizing collective tools

SEMMARIS is also continuing works to modernize common infrastructures. Inside the administrative tower of the Market, the Libert Bou conference room has been entirely modernized at a cost of 480,000 euros. It has been upgraded to comply with fire safety standards and now provides a rental complex seating a hundred people, equipped for video and sound, with a modular configuration.
Lastly, as part of the overall traffic plan within the Market, the Northern ring road has been altered to simplify access both for Market companies and buyers. The parasite entrances and exits have been closed to secure traffic, resulting in the building of a private parking lot. Over 50% of the works to upgrade the ring road have already been completed, and the rest will be done over the next few years, in line with the development works.