January will be seen as a stepping stone in the relations between fresh produce wholesalers and the people in charge of France’s canteens and hospital restaurants.
The two main fresh produce unions, Interfel and CCC (Comité de Coordination des Collectivités), presented a white paper redefining the commercial relations between the two sides.
School canteens, hospitals and staff restaurants are big business in France, generating fresh produce sales of €700 million (£521m). Wholesalers have always been the traditional providers of this part of the distribution chain.
But relations had become increasingly complicated between wholesale and catering - not to the point where they were jeopardised, but to the extent that a clean-up was necessary. The situation was caused in part by events on a wider scale: standardisation of products as is now the norm in France and Europe did not comply with the caterers’ requirements or wishes, causing misunderstandings along the chain.
There was also a need for greater information from the caterers, to optimise their orders.
In 2007, the two sides started drawing up an accurate guideline for buyers and providers, with the blessing of the French trade authorities.
A four-year global contract is now to be signed between the canteen and at least three providers, complying with demands in terms of quality (the text emphasises the ripening state, firmness, use-by date, etc) and service (delivery, geographical situation, etc).
Rungis wholesaler Laurent Grandin is in charge of the process at Interfel. “The wholesalers have been strongly committed from the beginning,” he said. “This document now brings us more responsibility.”
Bruno Berthier, president of CCC, explained: “This is the start of a new way of working. It was important to build this partnership with the wholesalers. We now have a common language; this is what we needed.”
Even if following the document is not compulsory, chances are it will be widely used by the industry.
But ahead of this, the minister of agriculture is due to send an official letter to mayors and similar officials to promote the new guidelines and explain their significance.
