French and Spanish wholesale markets stole the limelight during last week’s World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) 2009 Wholesale Market Awards hosted in the Eiffel Tower.
Responding to the theme of the ‘Sustainable Operation of Markets’, finalists from 10 countries competed for the WUWM gold, silver and bronze awards, presented in a ceremony held prior to the closing dinner of the annual WUWM autumn Conference in Paris’ global landmark.
SOMINICE - the wholesale market of Nice, France - a 44 year old market with an annual turnover of 120,000 tonne and €5 million. The 26ha market provides premises to 200 businesses selling fish, flowers, meat, fruit and vegetables, serving 2,500 customers daily.
The judging panel - which included FAO marketing economist, Olivio Argenti, the former managing director of Hamburg Market, Wolf Rohde and former SEMMARIS secretary general Michel Ganneau - awarded gold to the market on the basis of its energy savings, as well as for its waste recycling programme, and water initiatives.
Second and third went to Mercamurcia and Mercabilbao as the Spanish markets took home silver and bronze respectively with the latter commended for promoting increased efficiency, ensuring a significant decrease in waste on the market and providing transport efficiency.
In congratulating the winners, WUWM secretary general Maria Cavit noted that the 2009 WUWM Wholesale Market Award winners had “demonstrated excellence in the sustainability of their market operations” and in their “innovative use of existing and new technologies”.
A certificate of merit was also awarded, going to the newly built market of Lyon-Corbas in France. The market had met all current standard expectations for new market constructions, but in the eyes of the judges it had excelled in placing additional emphasis on environment, energy savings, reduced waste and recycling.
