WUWM Conference – “Globalizing Wholesale Markets: Ensuring Demand & Supply between East and West”

10 - 13 May 2011
Istanbul, Turkey

Executive summary:

During the WUWM Conference in Istanbul attendants discussed pertaining issues including wholesale market management and its role in the development of cities. Improvements to the distribution channels of wholesale markets in cities can, for example, improve quality standards. Moreover, the conference covered the incorporation of high-tech design in wholesale and retail markets, environmental considerations, food safety, and hygiene legislation. Experts also expressed the important role Turkish markets have as facilitators of East to West trade collaboration.

The key outcomes of this meeting are:

  1. The supply of food to cities faces increasing new challenges in logistical processes impacted by issues such as the price of energy, environmental concerns, and maintenance of quality standards. These changes require re-examination of the organization of the production process as well as adaptation of the market to address the escalating needs because of the increasing challenges of urban logistical issues. In facing these challenges, wholesale market management has a role to play in supporting urban planners and the development of cities, including the introduction of improvements to the supply of produce into the market and its distribution out of the market. Opportunities exist for markets and city planners to jointly explore more efficient and effective use of rail, road and sea transportation systems.
  2. Wholesalers are increasingly being logistically aligned with their surrounding areas, with emphasis on the incorporation of high-tech design and environmental compliance.
  3. The impact of developing legislation related to consumer food safety and hygiene requires that specific certification standards be established for wholesale markets. WUWM shall continue to develop this certification process based on its Guide to Good Hygienic Practice for Wholesale Market Managers in the European Union (adopted as a Community Guide by the European Commission in December 2009). 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.
  4. Turkey is uniquely placed to support and facilitate East to West trade collaboration and partnership. Through working in partnership within the WUWM network, Turkish markets aim to maximize reciprocal trading opportunities to the benefit of the food supply chain
  5. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Market commits to improve standards, share best practice, and increase trade potential for national agricultural markets

Main issues discussed:

  • Food Hygiene and Certification
    • Prof. Dr. Mahmut Paksoy
    • Dr Hans Strauß, Manager Certification Body (CCS), SGS, Austria
    • Hans-Joachim Conrad, GHVG and Dr Rolf Otto Wieckhoff (joint presentation), Hamburg, Germany
    • Selman Ayaz, Ministry of Agriculture, General Directorate of Protection and Control, Turkey
  • Transportation (Supply and Distribution)
    • Prof. Dr. Suat Teker
    • Marc Spielrein, President, SEMMARIS (Rungis International Market), France
    • Prof.Dr. Onur DEVRES, Istanbul Technical University Department of Food, Turkey
    • Lola Román, Deputy Director, Mercamadrid, Spain
    • Liu Xianshun, President, Nanjing Agricultural By-Product Logistical Distribution Center Co Ltd, China.
  • New Wholesale Market Planning
    • Prof. Dr. Hayri Ülgen
    • Erol Kuzubosaglu and Erkan Altug (joint presentation), Arima Architects, Turkey
    • Kim Joo-soo, President, SAMACO, Seoul, South Korea
    • Mayor Cafer Ozdemir and Architect Serhat Ozturk, Amasya Municipality, Turkey
  • Logistical Processes in the Wholesale Market
    • Associate Prof. Metin Türkay
    • Andre Frey, Managing Director, Bordeaux Market, France
    • Ass. Prof. Metin Çanci, Planning Center of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey
    • Round table:
      • Ma Xianping, Chairman of the Board, Chengdu Agricultural Product Wholesale Market Co. Ltd, China
      • Dr Carlo Dianzani, WUWM Honorary Chairman, Florence, Italy
      • Jan Lloyd, CEO, Covent Garden Maket Authority (CGMA), London UK
  • The Market Customer
    • Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kala
    • Bayram Ali Çakiroğlu, Director, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Wholesale Market, Turkey
    • Patrick Mphahlele, Chief Operations Manager, Joburg Market, South Africa
    • David Anderson, Board Member, Perth Market, Australia

WUWM Declaration 13 May 2011 (unanimous agreement of):

  1. The supply of food to cities faces increasing new challenges in logistical processes impacted by issues such as the price of energy, environmental concerns and maintenance of quality standards. These changes require re-examination of the organization of the production process as well as adaptation of the market to address the escalating need presented by the increasing challenges presented by urban logistical issues.
  2. In facing these challenges, wholesale market management has a role to play in supporting urban planners and the development of cities, including the introduction of improvements to the supply of produce into the market and its distribution out of the market. Opportunities exist for markets and city planners to jointly explore more efficient and effective use of rail, road and sea transportation systems.
  3. We confirm that wholesale markets are continuing to play an essential role in the food supply chain. As a result of this congress we note that, globally, many wholesale markets are being upgraded and modernized to embrace evolving hygiene standards and regulations. They are increasingly being logistically aligned with their surrounding areas, with emphasis on the incorporation of high-tech design and environmental compliance.
  4. Food hygiene and certification are increasingly important to the markets sector. WUWM member markets face challenges that benefit from shared exchange of experience at an expert level. The impact of developing legislation related to consumer food safety and hygiene requires that specific certification standards be established for wholesale markets. WUWM shall continue to develop this certification process based on its Guide to Good Hygienic Practice for Wholesale Market Managers in the European Union (adopted as a Community Guide by the European Commission in December 2009).
  5. There are 203 fruit and vegetable wholesale markets in Turkey providing 9,864 jobs. Additionally, in Istanbul alone some 358 district bazaars (street retail markets) employ 35,000 people. These important clients of the wholesale markets are crucial distributors of fresh fruit and vegetables to Turkish consumers. Traditional retailers remain the main customer of the wholesale markets in Turkey, as in many countries. However super and hyper markets are increasingly buying from these markets, and this trend is likely to develop further in coming years. It is therefore important that wholesale markets continue to consider the diversity of their customer base – and their corresponding strengths and challenges – developing services supportive to the needs of them all, both present and future;
  6. Turkey is uniquely placed to support and facilitate east to west trade collaboration and partnership. Through working in partnership within the WUWM network, Turkish markets aim to maximize reciprocal trading opportunities to the benefit of the food supply chain.
  7. In order to improve standards, share best practice, and increase trade potential for national agricultural markets, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Market commits to:
    • Establishing a national wholesale market managers association under the Turkish Municipalities Union;
    • Exploring opportunities that forge stronger links with wholesale markets exhibiting best practice internationally;
    • Exploring benefits that arise from the introduction of new models of development and market management that arise from working in partnership with the private sector;
    • Developing and introducing initiatives to improve national logistics and packaging issues to better support sustainability and environmental needs;
    • Introducing the WUWM Guide to Good Hygienic Practice to market management bodies throughout Turkey in order that they may ensure their compliance with both national and European Union hygiene and food safety regulations;
    • Developing a Middle East/North Africa (MENA) working group within WUWM that supports an effective exchange of information, experience and best practice that is of benefit to all markets within the WUWM membership;
    • Clarifying the agricultural production regulations applicable to wholesale markets to ensure that no barriers exist to the import and export of national produce;
    • Developing and initiating an awareness and educational program for all those involved in the wholesale market food supply and distribution chain.
Path Copy 7