US embassy cable - 05ROME3196

UNCLAS  ROME 003196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, ETRD, ECON, AMGT, SZ, FR, IT 
SUBJECT: POSSIBLE ITALIAN AND SWISS MRE PROVIDERS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 175147 
 
Econ Specialist contacted Italy's Department of Civil 
Protection and was given the contact information of four 
Italian companies that supply meals ready to eat.  One 
company indicated that it could not supply MREs in the 
numbers requested.  Two of the Italian firms gave us partial 
quotes.  The fourth firm passed our inquiry directly to its 
Swiss partner, which provided a detailed quote reported below 
and could deliver MREs within 4-6 weeks.  Embassy Bern may 
wish to follow up with the Swiss firm, if they prove to be a 
likely source of MREs. 
 
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Potential Italian Provider: CAMST 
--------------------------------- 
 
CAMST 
Via Tosarelli 318 
Villanova di Castenaso 
Bologna 
tel  39-05-1601-7411 
fax  39-05-1605-3502 
Rome office  39-06-8632-5742 
Rome fax  39-06-8621-7882 
POC: Fabrizio Buratti (may not speak English) 
cell for Mr. Buratti  39-335-120-9080 
 
CAMST indicated they might be able to supply vegetarian MREs, 
but they need more information on where and how the meals 
would be delivered before quoting a price and committing to a 
delivery.  Basic cost per meal would be about euro 5 (approx. 
$6). 
 
---------------------------------- 
Potential Italian Provider: ROMANA 
---------------------------------- 
 
ROMANA RISTORAZIONE, spa 
Via Gaverina, 14 
00176 Roma 
tel  39-06-3099-9473 
fax  39-06-3099-9547 
romana.ristorazione@tiscali.it 
English-speaking POC Romana Facchinelli cellphone 
39-328-161-0270. 
 
Cost per meal (including tax) euro 3.50 ($4.25).  Menu 
choices include: 
 
1) pasta salad (olive oil, fresh tomatoes, olives, cheese, 
basil, salt) 
 
2) quiche (pasta, spinach, olive oil, cheese) 
 
3) potatoes with parsley (potatoes, olive oil, salt, parsley). 
 
Meals can be maintained for 12 hours at room temperature and 
24 hours in refrigerator. Can be transported for four days in 
freezer container. 
 
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Swiss Firm Contacts Embassy Rome With Quote 
------------------------------------------- 
 
The last Italian company turned out to be the Italian 
distributor for the Swiss company Sevim.  Sevim distributes a 
product, produced in France, called "Quick Cuisine" 
(www.quickcuisine.info).  After hearing of our inquiry to 
their Italian partner, Sevim contacted Embassy Rome directly 
with the following information. 
 
------------ 
Contact Info 
------------ 
 
Name of vendor: SEVIM S.A., Grand-Rue 114, CH-1820 Montreux, 
Switzerland. 
 
Name of manufacturer: Bocage Restauration, B.P. 21 
Sammarcolles, F-86201 Loudun cedex, France. 
 
English speaking contact: Nicky Sevim 
 
SEVIM S.A. 
Grand-Rue 114 
CH-1820 Montreux 
Switzerland 
Tel:  ( 41) 21 963 7440 or ( 41) 21 963 7485 
Fax: ( 41) 21 963 7439 or ( 41) 21 963 7483 
nsevim@bluewin.ch 
 
---- 
Cost 
---- 
 
Cost per vegetarian MRE including fees/taxes is euro 2.37 
($2.90) delivered to any U.S. port. Price could be 
negotiable, if USG places a firm order. 
 
----------- 
Ingredients 
----------- 
 
The factory is FDA approved, no. FCE12879. Three menus 
available: 
 
1) Ravioli stuffed with vegetables in tomato sauce 
 
2) Rice with ratatouille (mixture of cooked eggplant, baby 
marrows, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions) 
 
3) Cooked mixed vegetables and potatoes. 
 
The meals are sterilized and have a lifetime of three years. 
Heating system has shelf-life of two years.  There is no need 
for refrigeration, and the meals can be stored at "ambient" 
temperature, but not below freezing point. 
 
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Delivery 
-------- 
 
Estimated time for deliver is 4 to 6 weeks depending on the 
quantities. 
 
------------------------ 
Packaging Specifications 
------------------------ 
 
Packaging specifications for transport, including estimated 
weight, dimensions and MREs per package: 
 
* Each meal package weighs 700g (including heating mechanism, 
food itself is 300g). 
 
* Each carton (six meals) is 34 cm x 17,5 cm x 16,5 cm. 
 
* 2,210 cartons (13,260 meals) in a 20 foot container 
(9,282kg). 
 
* 4,488 cartons (26,928 meals) in a 40 foot container 
(18,850kg). 
 
Embassy Rome will report any additional quotes received 
septel. 
SPOGLI 
 
 
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2005ROME03196 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED