On February 18, 1963 at 2:30 p.m., the Brienne market of national interest in Bordeaux opened its doors with a whirlwind of vehicles and an impressive back and forth of visitors.
On February 18, 1963, a page in the history of historic Capuchin market turns, nicknamed “the belly of Bordeaux” , it is emptying part of its barges, in favor of a large modern and functional equipment, the market of national interest of Brienne. The MIN was born out of France’s desire in 1962 to establish a network of markets of a new kind. If we believe the South West of the time , the change was rather well accepted, a representative thus vividly defined his installation in the new premises: “Here, it’s the twist, while at the Capuchins, it was the polka”.
The president of the Gironde General Council and senator, Raymond Brun, explains in Sud Ouest of February 19, 1963, the reasons for this development : « This market will play a leading role in fruit and vegetables without harming the Capuchins who will certainly continue to do wholesale for all other products but will finally specialize in retail. This last formula will facilitate a new development. The neighborhood economy will benefit ”.
On the Capuchin side that day, a security service had been planned in the event of incidents or exceptions to the new regulations. But it did not happen, the planned supply of fruits and vegetables arrived on time and in the desired quantities. 50 years later, the two markets still coexist , each with its own specificities even if “Les Capus” had a difficult time in the years 1990-2000 faced with parking concerns and the breakthrough of the Colbert market, on the quays. “Brienne”, meanwhile, underwent a complete renovation in 2004 of its large central hall and continues to change today to better face competition from supermarkets that have their own logistics, the emergence of chains from suppliers to professionals, to changing consumer eating habits. The numbers speak for themselves, 200,000 tonnes of goods pass through the MIN , with 67% fruits and vegetables, 10% seafood, 2% flowers and plants for an annual turnover of 3 billion euros generated by 116 concession companies and an average attendance of more than 1700 daily admissions . Something to satisfy our taste buds.
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