WUWM 30th Congress, “Integration & Innovation –Intelligent Development of Wholesale Markets”

21 - 23 September 2016
Changsha, China

Executive summary:

During the WUWM 30th Congress in Changsha, 500 food market professionals from 17 countries met and discussed issues such as city food chain supply, intelligent markets, and smart cities. Experts stressed that there is a possible trend for wholesale markets to move out of the cities as delivery of products is taking over the industry. Wholesalers will need more space for storing products and providing for services while most of their sales will be delivered to customers. At the same time, smart and climate-neutral cities are prospects, meaning that the industry and the delivery of products should pursue practices that reduce carbon emissions thus making use of renewable energy. Markets should also consider Corporate Social Responsibility (SCR) in the transition to a more digital industry, with initiatives such as educational campaigns on eating habits and the promotion of clean energy and successful waste management. Attendants further discussed issues including international market integration and the Chinese industry.

The key outcomes of this meeting are:

  1. Wholesale markets are currently attempting to reassert their traditionally vital role, in view of:
    1. The processes of the large substitution chains of the local-level distribution channel supplied by the wholesale markets
    2. The trend towards increasing direct sales (proximity products)
    3. The massive influx of e-commerce which, although still in its embryonic stage, has already displayed its strength
  2. Smart cities can help to visualize collaborative initiatives:
    1. In 2009, 1,000 municipalities signed up to the pact to strive to reduce their carbon footprint by means of technology
    2. The EU provides support and lines of funding to develop technologies by means of replicable projects
  3. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a necessary complement to a digital wholesale market:
    1. Initiatives on behalf of the environment (clean energies, waste management, etc.)
    2. Optimization of food waste figures
    3. Educational campaigns for children on eating habits
    4. Initiatives to promote training and the employment of people at risk of social exclusion
  4. Wholesale markets in China have become the main channel for imported fruit, meat, and aquatic products
    1. The main countries from which meat and aquatic products are imported contain Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Denmark, Australia, Paraguay, Canada, and US
    2. The primary imported meat and aquatic products include tuna, salmon, arctic shrimp, large prawn, Pleoticus muelleri, pork, beef and mutton
    3. Agricultural products in wholesale markets in China shall become an important window for import and export trade based on “one belt and one road” strategy by China
  5. A trend may be to move the wholesale markets out of the cities. Markets can be located far from the consumer because the delivery of fresh products is a new trend. The wholesalers need more space and services.
  6. In countries including Thailand, the threat from modern supply chains in comparison to traditional supply chains can cause significant financial dangers to millions of people as some of these countries have very weak anti-monopoly laws. Wholesale markets can support the traditional supply chains by prioritizing and promoting products from traditional and local supply chains
  7. Computing services and smart agricultural wholesaling can help improve efficiency and traceability in trading between wholesalers, suppliers, and customers

Main issues discussed:

  • International Market Integration
    • Giannis Triantafyllis, General Manager, Central Markets and Fishery Organizations (CMFO SA), Greece
    • Josep Tejedo, Managing Director, Mercabarna, Spain
    • Zengjun Ma, Chairman, Chinese Wholesale Markets Association (CAWA), China
    • Gustavo Fonseca, President, ABRACEN, Brazi
    • Michal Kostelecki, Silesia Flower Market, Poland
  • City Food Chain Supply
    • Manuel Estrada, WUWM Immediate Past Chairman, International Department, Mercasa, Spain
    • Florian de Saint-Vincent, Project Manager, Rungis, France
    • Graham Sanders, Director Talaad, Thai Wholesale Market, Thailand
    • Wu Mengqiu, Shanghai Vegetable, General Manager, China
    • Eliane Steinmeyer, Managing Director, Hamburg Wholesale Market, Germany
    • Wang Jing, Prime Advisor of Agriculture and Distribution, China Development Bank Research Institution, China
  • Intelligent Markets
    • Liu Zhiren, CAWA’s senior adviser, Counsellor of the State Council, Researcher at the Rural Economy Research Center of China’s Department of Agriculture, ChinaJohn Triantafyllis, Athens Central Market (OKAA), Greece
    • Hu Xianghai, President, SZAP, China
    • Flavio Pezzoli, Marketing Manager, Centro Agroalimentare Roma (CAR), Italy
    • Andrés de Pando, IT Director, Mercasa, Spain
    • Liu Haibo, CEO, Shenzhen Gdeng Technology Co., Ltd, China
    • Brad Latham, CEO, Sydney Markets Ltd, Australia
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