MICHEL GANNEAU

Wholesale-Retail Interactions: from Producer to Consumer

Secretary General (Hon) SEMMARIS

The European Food Markets

An old story… but increasingly trendy!

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.

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.

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.

The Food Chain

Farmers

Wholesale Markets

Retail Markets

Customers

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%

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE EUROPEAN FOOD MARKETS

For more details: -  www.wuwm.org -  m.cavit@wuwm.org

Thank you for your attention