Central Markets and Fishery Organizations (CMFO) SA is a public company, under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Economy & Development and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Since 1/1/2018, its ownership has been transferred to the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations.
CMFO’s main objective is the regular operation of the Markets, the organized distribution and trading of goods, as well as the supply of all consumers, by ensuring high quality standards and low price levels, through business competition.
CMFO constitutes the largest administrator of food markets in the Balkans, with two privately-owned Central Markets, in Athens and Patras, and the sole appropriator of the 11 fish markets/wharves throughout the country. More than 700 enterprises operate in its facilities, closely connecting it to the primary sector and the Greek producers, while the Organization employs 120 people as permanent personnel.
The core of CMFO is the Central Market of Athens, which comprises the Fruit and Vegetable Market, a dynamic market with 300 enterprises specialized in fresh fruits and vegetables, the Meat Market, as well as the Consumer’s Market, a modern retail market in the center of Attica’s urban fabric, very close to the port of Piraeus, which supplies the islands, and the largest proportion of tourist consumption with fresh fruits and vegetables. The annual product value exceeds 1.5 billion Euros.
CMFO supports its tenant enterprises through improving the services it provides, implementing a project for promoting business extroversion and export initiatives, by participating in domestic and international exhibitions, organizing trade missions abroad, and reinforcing synergy among enterprises. At the same time, it supports the evolution of trade practices and the transition to the new digital environment, towards a new notion about modern entrepreneurship.
CMFO is also an active member of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM). Under this capacity, CMFO hosted the launch of the international campaign “Love Your Local Market 2018”, with the participation of markets from 15 countries, while it participated in the initiative to draw and promote a common Position Paper for the European Markets.
The Master Plan drawn in 2018 outlines important infrastructure improvements in Athens Central Market, with the main priorities being ensuring funding for the upgrade of cold stores, reorganizing the entry-exit network, circulation and parking, improving the security systems and digital connection within the Central Market, as well as conducting an architectural competition for the redevelopment of Athens Central Market.
As far as CMFO’s network expansion is concerned, in the following months we are expecting the launch of a new fish market in Volos, the beginning of the project of creating the first Agrologistics Center in the country along with the Central Market of Thessaloniki, as well as the development of a retail market network. In addition, CMFO, in collaboration with “Urban Rail Transport S.A.”, and with the support of the Region of Attica, is already moving forward with the redevelopment of the old depot in Ippodameia square in Piraeus, by converting it into a modern food market.
