In the middle of zero part said Jean Bernou

Nothing seems to have stopped the progression in Europe of the Canadian McCain, the inventor of the frozen French FRY, world leader in its field with a turnover of 7 billion Canadian dollars (EUR 4.4 billion). The crisis, nor the development of brands, or its policy of high prices - in France, McCain sells its French fries twice more expensive than the generics. "The consumer makes the difference." "There is no waste in our products", justified Jean Bernou, boss of the continental Europe division. McCain already controls 40 percent of the frozen French FRY hexagonal market. It serves mainly the restoration, but also large surfaces and chains such as McDonald's, Quick, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Very solidly established in Western Europe, McCain has also several plants in the countries of the East, including a significant unit in Strezlin, Poland, the Russian market. "The potential for growth in Central Europe is enormous, notes Jean Bernou.". These are for us the most profitable European markets. "Result, McCain advance to giant in Central Europe and dream to expand its market up to... Vladivostok, the extreme is the Russia, one of the terminus of the Trans-Siberian railway. Next step, next conquest also, because the French fries are not part of the culinary habits in this country. "The Russians have found them by going to McDonalds", says Jean Bernou. But it will probably still three or four years for the first plant of the group to function.

More than the volumes, the group favours profitability. By selling more in addition to French fries frozen under its brand name and gradually moving brands, which absorbed 75 of its volume ten years ago. Without giving figures, Jean Bernou says that the margins of the company are "quite exceptional", "no common measure with the agri-food industry. The French FRY brand is as cost-effective. The turnover of McCain Europe declined by 3 in the last fiscal year, to EUR 700 million, nearly two years of "record growth". But profits remain "very substantial" and the Canadian won on the old Continent ( 2.5) market share.

Its largest plant in the world is located in France, in the village of Matougues (Marne). "In the middle of zero part", said Jean Bernou. A fully automated Cathedral with a cold room of 40 metres of high and does not less 30 tonnes of chips per hour! Potatoes are jump in the air of one carpet, an operation during which cameras have optical sorting, separating the good products of others.

A cloud in the pure sky: the availability of the raw material. A constant concern for Jean Bernou. "Many companies pay too little producers of potatoes." They do not realize that, from one year to another, they can abandon this culture to cereals when prices rise. "To avoid the risk of the failure of supply, McCain signs three year contracts with farmers for 60 of its needs. Canadian giant guard of margins of manoeuvre to set prices according to market over 40 of its raw material.