More than 32 million tonnes of products pass through the city of Paris every year, and their delivery uses 15-25 per cent of the driving and parking space in the capital city. Moreover, product deliveries represent half of the diesel oil consumed in the region. These are hardly encouraging figures, even if the blame is not entirely focused on fruit and vegetables.

Like any number of big cities, Paris is facing a real environmental and congestion problem and, of course, this impacts on the commercial dynamics of the city. So, the Parisian authorities have issued new rules for deliveries, restricting hours, confining lorries to specific areas and promoting alternative routes.

The transport department at the town hall of Paris recently explained to the managing authority of Rungis market, Semmaris, the different actions taken to make traffic - and quality of air - better in the capital. This is a topic of primary importance for the market, because it concerns two elements of the wholesalers’ businesses: on the one hand, it impacts retailers coming to the market to buy, and on the other hand, more and more wholesalers are offering delivery services to their customers and this may be crucial for their activities.

Those who followed the ‘Metro cash & carry inside Paris limits’ affair last year will certainly remember that the improvement of traffic in Paris was one of the reasons given to authorise the implementation of Metro. It seems no definite agreement came from this first meeting, but the word on the street says the Paris authorities seem to have understood the specific nature of Rungis market’s activities. As more regulation seems on the cards, Semmaris secured the word of the Parisian transport department that it will be consulted before any decisions are taken.

Transporting food in downtown areas is a political and economic topic. But it is also a social one. Consumers in France are more and more aware of the carbon footprint of the produce they buy. Of course, there is a long way to go before we get to the stage that British consumers have already reached, but little by little the idea is taking hold here. Maybe there will be some tips outlined in the exclusive report on the values that the French store by their food, which is to be presented at the third ‘Entretien de Rungis’ at the end of the month.