GIMEX – Global Import Export

GIMEX (Global Import Export) is an import and distribution company headquartered in Nouakchott, in Tevragh Zeina (Ilot G, Lot 39, P.O. Box 1962). Its website says it began in 2000 as Galerie Tata, a retailer in the heart of the capital; in 2004 it started importing goods to sell on its own account, in 2005 it began importing to supply other large and medium-sized stores, and in 2014, as the business grew, the GIMEX name was born. It presents itself as the largest importer, distributor and exclusive representative of major international food and non-food brands in Mauritania. The company says its infrastructure lets it store products frozen, chilled or dry, and that its sales force is split between a team promoting and distributing to supermarkets and a team covering the market through cash sales to a diverse clientele. It runs Fruits Centre, a store specialising in fruit and canned fruit at the Marché Maroc near the Moroccan Mosque, a warehouse at the Marché Capitale for groceries and dairy, points of sale in the capital and in Nouadhibou, and works with partners across Mauritania's regions and some neighbouring countries. It supplies large and small stores with an offer of 3,000 products in three temperature ranges, hotels and restaurants, butchers (canned vegetables and cheeses), pastry shops (yeasts, vanilla sugar, food colouring, orange blossom water and flavourings), pharmacies and hospitals. The company says it represents more than 60 suppliers worldwide and imports more than 100 international brands. Its catalogue covers groceries (canned vegetables, fruit, fish and meat, rice, pasta, flour, couscous, oils, sauces and spices), fresh products (UHT milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, cream, eggs, dates and smoked salmon), dietary products, breakfast (cereals, tea, coffee, jams, honey and biscuits), beverages (juices, mineral water and soft drinks) and frozen foods (ice cream, vegetables and meat). Its listed partners include Candia, Andros, Eckes-Granini, Red Bull, Rauch, Teisseire, Entremont, Eurial, McCormick, Almarai, Sunbulah, Watania, Koutoubia, Eaux Minérales d'Oulmès, Saïss Lait, La Boulangère, Labeyrie, Mydibel, Yildiz and Tat Makarnacılık. The site says GIMEX has recently introduced French Candia dairy products to the market, and lists among its strengths full coverage of Mauritania in food and non-food, exclusivity on most international brands on the market and dedicated sales teams. Its stated vision is to become Mauritania's largest importer, distributor and exclusive representative of international brands, and its mission is to bring high-quality, varied products to market in sufficient quantities.