As such, wholesalers have been concentrating on re-investing and upgrading their facilities to accommodate this change.
Since 1992, the number of UK wholesale markets has fallen by around 25 per cent, and there are now just 21 primary wholesale markets in the country.
What this has meant, says FPC ceo Doug Henderson, is a stabilisation of the sector. While supermarkets have a leading 80 per cent of retail fresh produce sales, the FPC does not think that independent retailers will lose any more of their market share.
Fruit and vegetable wholesalers have good reason to look forward to a successful future. The National School Fruit Scheme, which will provide a piece of fruit for every four-six year-old in the UK on school days, is being rolled out over the next two years.
This produce is primarily being sourced from the wholesale sector. Once it is fully implemented, the scheme will require about 70,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a year.
Similar moves are also taking place in Glasgow where there are pilot schemes in schools three days a week. Another school-related development should also be helpful to the wholesale sector. Standards introduced last April require all schools in England and Wales to provide a lunch service and make at least one portion of vegetables and of fruit available daily.
