Session -- Wholesale-Retail Interactions: from Producer to Consumer

1. MICHEL GANNEAU
Wholesale-Retail Interactions:
from Producer to Consumer
Secretary General (Hon)
SEMMARIS

2. The European Food Markets
An old story…
but increasingly trendy!

3. The European Food Markets
(within WUWM)
WHOLESALE + RETAIL = Food Markets
They have mutual interests :
u Wholesale markets offer a large choice of
products with a good quality/price ratio;
u Retail markets find convenient to have a unique
place for buying rather than go from one farm to
the other.

4. The Wholesale Market
u Fills a gap between production and retail;
u Concentrates the offer of food products;
u Facilitates the economic function of price
formation;
u May perform storage and warehousing functions, as well
as transport from farm to market or from wholesale to
retail.

5. The Retail Market,
Logical extension of the wholesale market
u Sells to the end user;
u Is a faithful client of the wholesale Market;
u Skilled professionals with a good knowledge of
products and client needs;
u Is established on a large variety of sites:
Ø Open-air markets;
Ø Street markets;
Ø Covered markets.

6. The Food Chain
Farmers
Wholesale Markets
Retail Markets
Customers

7. Wholesale markets in Europe
(within WUWM)
u 110 markets in 22 different EU countries;
u 1 000 000 permanent employees;
u Annual combined turnover: € 42 billion
u Europe Supply share (in volume):
fruit and vegetable : 40%
Fish and fish products : 10%
Meat and meat products : 2%

8. Retail markets in Europe
(within WUWM)
u 25,000 different sites (open-air/street – covered);
u 450 000 market traders;
u 1 000 000 permanent employees;
u Yearly total turnover: > € 40 billion.

24. THE VALUE OF EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
1 – Real quality/competitiveness for Food
Products
u A good place to engage in price negotiation;
u Sustainability secured through professional
knowledge;
u An alternative route to market for producers.

25. THE VALUE OF EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
2 – Effective contributors to food security, safety
and hygiene
u Wholesale markets comply with the different
EC Regulations relative to food hygiene;
u Retail markets take advantage of that in
addition to their specific rules on the subject.

26. THE VALUE OF EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
3 – Role in public health, food access and social
cohesion
u Retail markets are a point of exchange
between various strata of society;
u Wholesale markets provide opportunities for
education (children/adults);
u Many markets support food banks.

27. THE VALUE OF EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
4 –Markets offer substantial employment in cities
u Over 2 million employees work on wholesale
and retail markets in Europe;
u The 2 structures give entrepreneurs easy
access and low cost entry in business start-
ups;
u They help to maintain activities in the lower
paid jobs categories.

28. THE VALUE OF EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
5 –Markets play a significant role in
environmental protection
u Waste recycling is largely encouraged. The
market model creates minimal food wastage;
u Products bought on these markets have
generally less packaging;
u Markets help reduce food miles and encourage
more environmental friendly production
practices.

29. PROMOTING EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
u Children/adults visits;
u “5 a day”, “the taste week”… campaigns;
u Cooking recipes;
u Media (Press, Radio, TV…);
u Others….
u “Love your Local Market” campaign.

30. THE EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS
For more details:
- www.wuwm.org
- m.cavit@wuwm.org
Thank you for your attention