Top of the agenda at last week's meeting of pan-European wholesalers was an analysis of the food service sector across Europe. "What we saw were that the same trends are happening across Europe," said Freshfel delegate general Philippe Binard. "Pan-European groups are emerging as they did in the retail sector in the early 1990s and we have to make sure that the wholesale sector is well placed to take advantage of this.'
The good news for the wholesale sector is that the down-sizing and restructure in wholesale markets that took place 10 years ago is at an end. "Wholesalers and wholesale markets are now more stable and the future is clearer," said FPC chief executive and Freshfel vice-president Doug Henderson. "People are now looking to food service and composite markets to provide a full range of services, not just in the UK, but across Europe.
Binard also told the 40 delegates from across the UK and Europe of the increasingly close relationship between the World Union of Wholesale Markets and Freshfel's wholesale and distribution division. This harmony was taken a step further last week as the meeting agreed to assist WIUM in its first draft of a best practices guide between wholesalers and market authorities using a UK template. The aim is to define the respective responsibilities of tenants and landlords and hopefully bringing a common formula to markets across Europe.
The meeting also examined the issue of handling of certified produce and the possibility of certification of the whole supply chain. "This issue has been raised by Eurep GAP," said Henderson, "and it centres around how customers can be sure that their Eurep GAP certified produce is being handled by responsible people." FPC president Dick Brighten said that it was important to build confidence in the supply chain in this respect. "What we don't want is a proliferation of accreditation schemes," he said.
Delegates also shared experiences on implementing packaging waste regulations and agreed to set up a working group to improve the operation of returnable pallets and packaging systems.
