WUWM Conference – “A global supply to meet demands of all kinds”

14 - 17 November 2010
Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Executive summary:

During the WUWM Conference in Palma de Mallorca experts discussed issues such as new technologies and trends in wholesale and retail markets, including the benefits in logistical efficiency when using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) and the integrated management of packages and waste pool throughout the chain. Furthermore, all WUWM members committed to helping its member markets implement the recently adopted European Community Guide for Good Hygienic Practices, thus continuing the collaboration with the European Commission. Other topics discussed at the conference, included environmental management, social responsibility, and the role of wholesale and retail markets in improving food safety.

The key outcomes of this meeting are:

  1. WUWM urges wholesale markets to take advantage of the many possibilities and opportunities that new technology provide, especially in terms of production and energy efficiency, as well as waste management.
  2. WUWM pledges its support to help its member markets implement the recently adopted European Community Guide for Good Hygienic Practices; thus continuing the collaboration with the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO, currently known as the DG for Health and Food Safety – DG SANTE), as well as with other departments of the European Commission. This document is intended for public and/or private companies responsible for the management of wholesale markets in the European Union, with the general objective of providing them with guidance on food safety and hygiene and the implementation of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) based procedures. HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the examination and control of chemical, biological, and physical hazards from raw material production, handling and procurement, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.
  3. Wholesale markets offer producers a unique and vital alternative route to market. Wholesale markets also provide for increased farm to fork food chain efficiency, ensure price transparency and support healthy-eating initiatives. In reconfirming the market role as an important promotional vehicle for increased public consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, WUWM requests funding assistance that can help further develop cross-border activities.

Main issues discussed:

  • Wholesale Market Sector Trends
    • Montserrat Gil de Bernabé, General Director, Mercabarna, Spain
    • Andrew McLay, Senior Consultant, Promar International, UK
    • Roger Gaspa Maynou, Logistics and Distribution Director, Cerdá Institute, Spain
    • Round table:
      • Christian Berthe, Manager, Lyon Market, France
      • Antonio Sanchez, Chairman, Mercapalma Wholesalers Association, Spain
      • George van Eldik, Senior Project Manager, Vroegop Ruhe & Co, Netherlands
      • Torben Flinch, Managing Director, Copenhagen Markets, Denmark
  • Environmental Management. Social Responsibility and Business Opportunities
    • Lola Román, Deputy Director, Mercamadrid, Spain
    • Joon-shik Song, Director of Management Division, SAMACO, Republic of Korea
    • David Chica, Facilities Director, Mercasa, Spain
    • Round table:
      • Torsten Berens, Managing Director, Hamburg Wholesale Market, Germany
      • Joseph Calza, Manager, Nice Market, France
      • Aitor Argote, Manager, Mercabilbao, Spain
      • Martín Peña, Manager, Mercamurcia, Spain
  • Retail Markets – Commercial Format of the Future. Formation and Management
    • Constancio Ibañez, Director General, Mercazaragoza
    • Angel Pujol, Managing Director, Institute for Industrial Development in the Balearic Islands, Spain
    • Malcolm Veigas, Assistant Director, Bolton Council / NABMA, UK
    • Round table:
      • Jordi Torrades, Manager, Barcelona Markets, Spain
      • Rodolfo Rodriguez, Studies and Market Development Director, Pima Cenada, Costa Rica
      • Antoni Crespí, President, Del Olivar Retail Market, Spain
      • Jean-Paul Auguste, President, GroupeGeraud, France
  • Wholesale Markets in the New Economic Climate
    • Agustín García-Cabo, Director General, Mercasturias, Spain
    • José Antonio Caldés, Manger (Palma), TeaCegos Deployment, Spain
    • Gustavo Costa de Almeida, Head of Operations Department, CeasaMinas, Brazil
    • Round table:
      • Javier Casares, Economics Professor, Spain
      • Juan Dueñas, Director General, Mercapalma, Spain
      • Don Darnall, Executive Director, MFCA, USA
      • Elton Zhang, Director International Relations, Shenzhen Market, China
  • Food Safety and Contributions Wholesale Markets Can Make to Consumer Habits
    • José Joaquin García, Director General, Mercavalencia, Spain
    • Didier Delmotte, Manager, Lille Market, France
    • David Verano Cañaveras, Agrarian and Food Sector Manager, AENOR, Spain
    • Round table:
      • Philippe Henri, CEO Creno and Vice President Freshfel Europe, France
      • José Miguel Herrero, Food Chain Deputy Director, Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Spain
      • Raúl Calleja, Director of Fruit Attraction (IFEMA), Spain
      • Helen Evans, Communications Manager, Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), London, UK

WUWM Declaration 17 September 2010 (unanimous agreement of):

  1. Acknowledging the current trends in the wholesale market sector and mindful of the challenges and opportunities present in the current global economic climate, we recognize the need for wholesale market management to be operationally and strategically focused on ensuring that excellence, innovation and professionalism abound in the supply of market infrastructure and service provision. This in turn ensures that the businesses on the markets receive the best opportunities possible to compete and flourish in a global food industry that is rapidly changing and increasingly demanding.
  2. Analyzing the social and commercial responsibilities arising from sustainable environmental management, we urge wholesale markets to take advantage of the many possibilities and opportunities that new technology provides, especially in terms of production and energy efficiency, as well as waste management. In addition, the ongoing modernization of market infrastructure, both wholesale and retail, provides not only for improved environmental conditions, but is also conducive to offering traders logistical platforms that support the increase of added-value services.
  3. Reconfirming the wholesale and retail commitment to ensuring market premises meet the highest standards of food safety, WUWM pledges its support to help its member markets implement the recently adopted European Community Guide for Good Hygienic Practices; thus continuing our good collaboration with SANCO, as well as with other departments of the European Commission.
  4. Reviewing the important contribution markets make to global food security, it is clear that wholesale markets offer producers a unique and vital alternative route to market. Wholesale markets also provide for increased farm to fork food chain efficiency, ensure price transparency and support healthy-eating initiatives. In reconfirming the market role as an important promotional vehicle for increased public consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, we request funding assistance that can help further develop cross-border activities.
  5. Developing the link between wholesale and retail markets is of growing importance to ensuring sustainable and effective local/national food policies exist. WUWM confirms its ongoing commitment to developing this task and providing decision-makers with information in this area.

Furthermore, WUWM would like to underline some points subject to debate in the Conference, as summarized by Mr Ignacio Cruz Roche, President of Mercasa, during the Conference Closing Ceremony:

  1. Concentration and large-scale economy. The wholesaler who operates from a wholesale market may benefit from concentration and large-scale economy. This large-scale economy arises from the fact that they present a stronger attraction to clients, in comparison to those wholesalers located outside of the wholesale market. In this way, retailers supplied by the wholesale market will come from a wider geographical area. This large-scale economy results in a reduction of operational costs through an increased turnover generated by wholesale market operations. For example, the reduction in the cost of basic services (e.g. cleaning, surveillance, energy supply, and so forth) as well as a reduction in the cost of complying with legislation, (e.g. environment, waste management, food safety, etc.).
  2. Specialization wholesale/retail. A wholesale market should provide an extensive and specialized product range, maximizing economic value through its dealings in enabling the large-scale supply and distribution to bulk buyers. On the other hand, a retail market offers a wider diversity of product to a larger group of buyers, but in smaller quantities. These differences in marketing and management suggest that the wholesale and retail trades should continue to be specialized.
  3. Public policies. Unquestionably, public policies to support commercial food supply and distribution have a very important role. However, they can, in some circumstances, cause market distortions. Public authorities wanting to invest in improving the food distribution chain should focus on bringing about the improvement of location and basic site infrastructures, such as equipment, transport, etc. so that entrepreneurs, both wholesale and retail, may operate under the same conditions and at comparable cost to those traders located outside the market. In this way, unfair competition can be avoided.
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