The National Interest Market (MIN) in Toulouse innovates by paying a business incubator which hosts 45 companies in various fields. In 2017, Toulouse Métropole had awarded the operation of the wholesale market for 22 years to the Lumin company, 51% owned by Semmaris of the Rungis market and 44% by La Poste Immo, with the mission of relaunching the MIN which was accumulating the deficits and build a logistics center for city deliveries .

Between 2015 and 2020, the Big market – its new name – increased its occupancy rate from 83% to 97% by hosting 170 businesses and 270 regional producers. The volume of business increased from 333 to 375 million euros between 2015 and 2020 according to Lumin, which proposed the activities: creation of a flower and gastronomy pavilion, establishment of catering laboratories and the cooking school of Thierry Marx, etc. “Covid-19 has given new impetus to the wholesale markets by accelerating the short circuit sales growth says Dominique Batani, president of the MIN and director of the Rungis market.

circuit course

The MIN now wants to develop innovation by planning a business incubator in 850 square meters of office space in the renovated old clock sales building, like Rungis, which opened Rungis & Co in 2015. The incubator Rent offices at affordable rents. She has equipped herself with a incubator that hosts four seedlings for freeborn Watertourscreator of vertical apartment gardens and V21 who cooks food products with hemp. Start-ups are supported by the association The nuggets which brings together 50 food companies.

In addition to service companies (banking, consulting, etc.), the food incubator welcomes companies that offer new products such as CavyaKampot pepper specialist in Cambodia, and Kraft and youmanufacturer of tableware in vegetable leather (wood fibers).

There are e-tailers like Cagette market, which offers 700 regional products delivered in the urban area. “We came to the MIN because we get our supplies from the producers’ area and we rent a warehouse there,” says its co-founder. Samuel Helua. Here, we met a roaster, a producer of cookies. On a whole here! » Former engineer, Babacar Wade created La Coterie françaisea digital marketplace for local meats that connects butchers and buyers.