Frunatur is launching new installations tripling the space of its current location

Grupo Cuevas kicks off a new and expanded distribution platform for fresh fruits and vegetables. This is its Frunatur business unit that, after almost 11 years in its current location in the San Cibrao das Viñas Industrial Estate, is relocating to the same industrial area, although with a significant expansion of facilities.
The double-digit growth that Frunatur has been consolidating in the last 5 years has led to the need to have a larger space that allows it to increase its production capacity. The new platform has 3,500 square meters compared to the 1,400 with which it operated until today. It is equipped with ten loading and unloading docks that occupy 624 square meters. They also increase the number and footage dedicated to the conservation chambers (from 4 to 5 independent spaces) with a total area of 715 square meters and double the computerized positions for order preparation.
This infrastructure continues to guarantee that the cold chain is not altered during the entire distribution process (from reception, storage, preparation and until delivery to customers). At the heart of the building we will find the transition chamber, five storage chambers, a packaging area, a picking area and, finally, the order preparation area. All areas are air-conditioned to always maintain the quality and condition of the product. For its part, each storage chamber allows individualized temperatures and humidity to be applied that vary depending on the product they house. Vegetables and vegetables, citrus fruits, stone fruits, etc. Each chamber is adjusted to optimize the conservation of each product family.
Frunatur will also have more space dedicated to activity in offices that now reach 150 square meters and will be surrounded by green and landscaped spaces that humanize the facility.
The plot on which the new facilities are located, and which we find on street 3 of the Polígono de San Cibrao das Viñas, has more than 9,000 square meters that house the platform building itself, warehouse and offices, a parking area with capacity for more than thirty vehicles, in addition to a floor in which there will be a specific space of 700 square meters for the storage of recyclable containers and pallets.
As far as employment data is concerned, the Frunatur platform had, in fiscal year 2018, a team made up of 21 people that has not stopped growing and which today stands at 34 people, marking a growth of close to 62% and consolidating the commitment that Grupo Cuevas has with the territory.
Artur Yuste points out that “the creation of a new platform dedicated to healthy foods with special attention to local and seasonal products gives us a lot of satisfaction for two reasons: our commitment to fresh products is consolidated and those who trust us are every again, from a small fruit shop to someone who designs the menu in a school, a day center or a residence for the elderly. And, on the other hand, continue contributing to employment, growth and economic development of our province, of the place where we were born and grew. That Frunatur has outgrown us in a decade is a sign that we are following the right path and at great speed. We continue then, without stopping.”

A sustainable and environmentally friendly platform
Grupo Cuevas continues to focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly building models where consumption is reduced to a minimum and the use of renewable energy is a priority. Frunatur is equipped with low-consumption LED interior and exterior lighting and has presence detectors in common areas. One of the main features of the building is the installation, on the roof, of 218 photovoltaic panels with a power of 550 watts each. The installation carried out has the capacity to achieve a peak production of 118 kilowatts.
In addition, the use of solar energy in the complex has environmental benefits, due to the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, the reduction of pollution, the improvement of air quality and the conservation of ecosystems. Thanks to the use of this green electricity, the plant will avoid the emission of 150 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and will prevent the felling of 7,500 trees. The new building has a ventilation system that produces constant air renewal all day, avoiding opening windows and the subsequent loss of energy and heat.
For telephony throughout the ship, the IP voice system has been used, based on data networks and not using the traditional telephone line. In this way, telephone communications can be made via the Internet from a landline IP telephone terminal, a mobile phone or even from the worker's own computer.
To equip the refrigeration installation, Frunatur has opted for an ultra-low superheat CO2 system and ejectors that will result in energy savings of more than 20% compared to a conventional CO2 refrigeration system. The use of CO2 as a refrigerant fluid has zero impact on the ozone layer and is the most ecological solution, since it allows one of the main greenhouse gases to be recycled.
The ground floor of the new warehouse dedicates a specific space to a battery charging room for electric forklifts and lifts, and to a machine repair and maintenance workshop.

CUEVAS GROUP, DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH
Grupo Cuevas has signed balance sheets with double-digit billing growth in the last 10 years. Proof of this are the 177 million sales presented in fiscal year 2022, which represented an increase of 29.1% over the turnover of the previous year. At the end of 2022, the Group had a team of 789 people.