World Union of Wholesale Markets
Encyclopedia
The World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) is a non-profit association
that engages in all fields and activities related to the promotion, development and international exchange of expertise and information on food
markets.
WUWM provides information on the important role and activity of the food market sector to both the general public and public authorities, and through its membership facilitates the exchange of professional knowledge and expertise to all food market managers who wish to improve the construction, organisation and/or management of their markets. WUWM also serves as a valuable tool for those policy-makers committed to improving the food security and food distribution services provided within their city and country.
By developing close relationships with other relevant market associations as well as with local and national government bodies, and by pooling the varied expertise that exists within its membership, WUWM is able provide all authorities and organisations responsible for the establishment and management of food wholesale
and retail
markets with valuable advice and experience related to the business and challenges of food markets, as well as production markets or markets at point of origin.
WUWM is active in supporting and collaborating with relevant food initiatives and projects of international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as ensuring national decision-makers have an expert arena for acquiring detailed market information and experience.
Current issues of importance include areas such as waste management
; food security
and fresh produce distribution
, and the associated marketing and logistical challenges; European Union
enlargement and EC Directives; fair trade
; identifying and exploring the socio-economic benefits of food markets
; optimising efficiency and profitability; and the future development opportunities for food markets.
WUWM pursues knowledge exchange through the organisation of conferences and specialised meetings, as well as by the collection and registration of data on wholesale and retail markets in differing countries and economic regions. The Union seeks to interact with other food industry professionals and expert bodies offering a liaison point for distributors, producers, wholesalers and suppliers, and provides the leading international platform for debate on fresh produce food market issues.
Originally established in 1958 as an associated organisation of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), WUWM became an autonomous association domiciled in The Netherlands in June 2003.
WUWM currently has around 200 members in 44 countries. Membership benefits include increased profile, information access, experience exchange and networking.
The membership elects from among its voting members those that are to serve on the Board of Directors, with an election occurring every year during an annual meeting of the Membership. At each election, approximately half the Directors will be elected/re-elected for a 2year term. The Board will, where possible, be regionally and thematically representative of the Union’s membership and activities.
The Secretary General is accountable to the WUWM Membership via the Board of Directors and Chairperson.
authorities and food professionals in 1958. This came after a first international congress took place in Munich, Germany in 1955, where European local authorities came together to discuss food and market issues in an attempt to address issues of concern at that time.
Established originally as a working group within the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), WUWM quickly grew into a large and dedicated network of food professionals which expanded beyond the borders of Europe already in the early 1980s. Through the collection of information and the organisation of conferences and specialised meetings, WUWM grew in both strength and capability. By pooling the expertise which existed within its membership, WUWM was soon able to provide members, as well as the authorities responsible for the establishment and management of wholesale markets, with valuable advice and support.
The new WUWM Statutes approved in 2001/2002 provided a sound basis for the consolidation and growth of WUWM. During the following two years, new organisational and working methods were introduced and the participation of members in the Union’s activities and the promotion of its image grew. This growth in membership, expertise and capability led to a decision to take independence from IULA, and in July 2003 WUWM sought legal autonomy. Under the direction of Marc Spielrein the WUWM Chairman at that time, in close collaboration with members of the WUWM Board and the Secretary General, the WUWM established itself as an independent non-profit association domiciled in The Hague in The Netherlands. The founding members of this association were Mr Douglas Noakes from the United Kingdom, in recognition of his contribution as a former WUWM President; and Mr Rolf Brauer from Germany, in recognition of his long-term active contribution as a WUWM member and Vice President.
faced with the rise and consolidation of new forms of distribution, urban growth, environmental issues, the growth of logistics and new consumer concerns - especially in terms of food quality
and safety
, the diversification of consumption and supply arising from the needs of ethnic minorities, have been constantly pushed to implement adaptation and modernisation strategies.
As part of this effort to adapt markets to effectively meet these needs, there has had to be a significant change in their concept. Issues of logistics, concern about the standards of hygiene of premises, and the involvement of operators in market management, have acquired greater importance.
Accordingly, during the latter half of the 1990s and the early 2000s, new markets appeared to replace obsolete premises, and investment was made to adapt old markets to new hygiene and safety requirements. Portugal, Italy, the UK, Germany, France and the Czech Republic are some of the countries where this building and refurbishment drive has had the greatest effect. These developments led the WUWM European Union Working Group to approve at its meeting in May 2004, a Guide to Good Practice for Wholesale Markets, aimed at reflecting the European Union’s guidelines on food quality and safety. The work done in this area has aroused great interest on the part of other non-European members, who have asked WUWM to co-ordinate similar work in their countries.
The recent eastwards enlargement of the European Union, and the important role that wholesale markets in membership of WUWM play there and in candidate countries, as well as in Russia and China, are key instruments in consolidating the development of the market economy, and provide an opportunity for further growth in WUWM activities and membership. Population growth in the countries of Latin America and Asia, and its concentration in ever larger conurbations, created new impetus for the organisation of the food supply to these populations, and has led these countries to pay particular attention to the importance of wholesale markets.
In addition to the role that markets play in supplying the population, attention should also be drawn to their important role as instruments in the planning of commercial and logistical activities in the urban environment, and in supporting the development of agricultural production, and, as existing initiatives in Brazil and certain Northern European countries have clearly demonstrated, in combating social exclusion.
The importance of diet to the health of populations has given rise to increasing intervention by public authorities in this field, with markets participating in many programmes and projects aimed at increasing the awareness of consumers of the role that diet plays in maintaining health.
The liberalisation of world agri-food trade in the context of the recent WTO agreement means that food will increasingly be sourced at world level, requiring food quality and safety issues to be determined on the basis of international co-operation involving producers and the various operators and agents in the supply chain, including naturally, wholesale markets themselves.
As an organisation representing wholesale markets from all over the world, involving significant numbers of operators of various kinds and large flows of mainly perishable goods, WUWM has a large field of action and responsibility. The expectations of WUWM by members are therefore enormous. The WUWM capacity to respond to these expectations depends essentially on its ability to obtain support from international institutions concerned with these issues, and on the willingness of its members to become involved. Bringing together, as it does, food markets in many parts of the world with differing organisation models, economic and social environments, histories and experiences, one can claim that WUWM constitutes a potential network of excellence with tried and tested technical and scientific capabilities whose service to its members and to all wholesale markets and their operators deserves further development.
Recognizing the contribution made by retail market operators/authorities to the markets industry, and the common agenda of many aspects of Wholesale and Retail Markets, WUWM will continue to build on the work already done in embracing retail markets within the WUWM structure.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that engages in all fields and activities related to the promotion, development and international exchange of expertise and information on food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
markets.
WUWM provides information on the important role and activity of the food market sector to both the general public and public authorities, and through its membership facilitates the exchange of professional knowledge and expertise to all food market managers who wish to improve the construction, organisation and/or management of their markets. WUWM also serves as a valuable tool for those policy-makers committed to improving the food security and food distribution services provided within their city and country.
By developing close relationships with other relevant market associations as well as with local and national government bodies, and by pooling the varied expertise that exists within its membership, WUWM is able provide all authorities and organisations responsible for the establishment and management of food wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
and retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
markets with valuable advice and experience related to the business and challenges of food markets, as well as production markets or markets at point of origin.
WUWM is active in supporting and collaborating with relevant food initiatives and projects of international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as ensuring national decision-makers have an expert arena for acquiring detailed market information and experience.
Current issues of importance include areas such as waste management
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
; food security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
and fresh produce distribution
Food distribution
Food distribution, a method of distributing or transporting food or drink from one place to another, is a very important factor in public nutrition. Where it breaks down, famine, malnutrition or illness can occur...
, and the associated marketing and logistical challenges; European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
enlargement and EC Directives; fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
; identifying and exploring the socio-economic benefits of food markets
Food marketing
Food marketing brings together the producer and the consumer. It is the chain of activities that brings food from “farm gate to plate.” The marketing of even a single food product can be a complicated process involving many producers and companies. For example, fifty-six companies are involved in...
; optimising efficiency and profitability; and the future development opportunities for food markets.
WUWM pursues knowledge exchange through the organisation of conferences and specialised meetings, as well as by the collection and registration of data on wholesale and retail markets in differing countries and economic regions. The Union seeks to interact with other food industry professionals and expert bodies offering a liaison point for distributors, producers, wholesalers and suppliers, and provides the leading international platform for debate on fresh produce food market issues.
Originally established in 1958 as an associated organisation of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), WUWM became an autonomous association domiciled in The Netherlands in June 2003.
WUWM currently has around 200 members in 44 countries. Membership benefits include increased profile, information access, experience exchange and networking.
WUWM Board and Secretariat
WUWM's managing bodies are the membership and the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Directors. The Board of Directors has a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 13 members, including the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.The membership elects from among its voting members those that are to serve on the Board of Directors, with an election occurring every year during an annual meeting of the Membership. At each election, approximately half the Directors will be elected/re-elected for a 2year term. The Board will, where possible, be regionally and thematically representative of the Union’s membership and activities.
The Secretary General is accountable to the WUWM Membership via the Board of Directors and Chairperson.
History of WUWM
WUWM began operating as the international platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience of wholesale marketWholesale marketing
The consumption and production of marketed food are spatially separated. Production is primarily in rural areas whilst consumption is in urban areas. Agricultural marketing is the process that overcomes this separation, allowing produce to be moved from an area of surplus to one of need...
authorities and food professionals in 1958. This came after a first international congress took place in Munich, Germany in 1955, where European local authorities came together to discuss food and market issues in an attempt to address issues of concern at that time.
Established originally as a working group within the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), WUWM quickly grew into a large and dedicated network of food professionals which expanded beyond the borders of Europe already in the early 1980s. Through the collection of information and the organisation of conferences and specialised meetings, WUWM grew in both strength and capability. By pooling the expertise which existed within its membership, WUWM was soon able to provide members, as well as the authorities responsible for the establishment and management of wholesale markets, with valuable advice and support.
The new WUWM Statutes approved in 2001/2002 provided a sound basis for the consolidation and growth of WUWM. During the following two years, new organisational and working methods were introduced and the participation of members in the Union’s activities and the promotion of its image grew. This growth in membership, expertise and capability led to a decision to take independence from IULA, and in July 2003 WUWM sought legal autonomy. Under the direction of Marc Spielrein the WUWM Chairman at that time, in close collaboration with members of the WUWM Board and the Secretary General, the WUWM established itself as an independent non-profit association domiciled in The Hague in The Netherlands. The founding members of this association were Mr Douglas Noakes from the United Kingdom, in recognition of his contribution as a former WUWM President; and Mr Rolf Brauer from Germany, in recognition of his long-term active contribution as a WUWM member and Vice President.
The wholesale market situation and WUWM
In the 1970s and 1980s, wholesale marketsWholesale marketing
The consumption and production of marketed food are spatially separated. Production is primarily in rural areas whilst consumption is in urban areas. Agricultural marketing is the process that overcomes this separation, allowing produce to be moved from an area of surplus to one of need...
faced with the rise and consolidation of new forms of distribution, urban growth, environmental issues, the growth of logistics and new consumer concerns - especially in terms of food quality
Food quality
Food quality is the quality characteristics of food that is acceptable to consumers. This includes external factors as appearance , texture, and flavour; factors such as federal grade standards and internal .Food quality in the United States is enforced by the Food Safety Act 1990...
and safety
Food safety
Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....
, the diversification of consumption and supply arising from the needs of ethnic minorities, have been constantly pushed to implement adaptation and modernisation strategies.
As part of this effort to adapt markets to effectively meet these needs, there has had to be a significant change in their concept. Issues of logistics, concern about the standards of hygiene of premises, and the involvement of operators in market management, have acquired greater importance.
Accordingly, during the latter half of the 1990s and the early 2000s, new markets appeared to replace obsolete premises, and investment was made to adapt old markets to new hygiene and safety requirements. Portugal, Italy, the UK, Germany, France and the Czech Republic are some of the countries where this building and refurbishment drive has had the greatest effect. These developments led the WUWM European Union Working Group to approve at its meeting in May 2004, a Guide to Good Practice for Wholesale Markets, aimed at reflecting the European Union’s guidelines on food quality and safety. The work done in this area has aroused great interest on the part of other non-European members, who have asked WUWM to co-ordinate similar work in their countries.
The recent eastwards enlargement of the European Union, and the important role that wholesale markets in membership of WUWM play there and in candidate countries, as well as in Russia and China, are key instruments in consolidating the development of the market economy, and provide an opportunity for further growth in WUWM activities and membership. Population growth in the countries of Latin America and Asia, and its concentration in ever larger conurbations, created new impetus for the organisation of the food supply to these populations, and has led these countries to pay particular attention to the importance of wholesale markets.
In addition to the role that markets play in supplying the population, attention should also be drawn to their important role as instruments in the planning of commercial and logistical activities in the urban environment, and in supporting the development of agricultural production, and, as existing initiatives in Brazil and certain Northern European countries have clearly demonstrated, in combating social exclusion.
The importance of diet to the health of populations has given rise to increasing intervention by public authorities in this field, with markets participating in many programmes and projects aimed at increasing the awareness of consumers of the role that diet plays in maintaining health.
The liberalisation of world agri-food trade in the context of the recent WTO agreement means that food will increasingly be sourced at world level, requiring food quality and safety issues to be determined on the basis of international co-operation involving producers and the various operators and agents in the supply chain, including naturally, wholesale markets themselves.
As an organisation representing wholesale markets from all over the world, involving significant numbers of operators of various kinds and large flows of mainly perishable goods, WUWM has a large field of action and responsibility. The expectations of WUWM by members are therefore enormous. The WUWM capacity to respond to these expectations depends essentially on its ability to obtain support from international institutions concerned with these issues, and on the willingness of its members to become involved. Bringing together, as it does, food markets in many parts of the world with differing organisation models, economic and social environments, histories and experiences, one can claim that WUWM constitutes a potential network of excellence with tried and tested technical and scientific capabilities whose service to its members and to all wholesale markets and their operators deserves further development.
Retail Market Situation in WUWM
A Retail Market Section was established by WUWM in 2001. As it grew increasing clear that many issues relevant to wholesale markets were also relevant to retail markets, formalisation of the important role of retail markets took place during the WUWM 24th Congress in Baltimore, USA in September 2005. At that event a WUWM Retail Market Declaration was prepared outlining a concrete definition of a retail market. Thereafter a formal WUWM Retail Markets Committee was developed and general WUWM membership was opened to retail markets - their traders and operators.Recognizing the contribution made by retail market operators/authorities to the markets industry, and the common agenda of many aspects of Wholesale and Retail Markets, WUWM will continue to build on the work already done in embracing retail markets within the WUWM structure.