flowers and plants in particular benefit from a privileged access to the Wholesale Markets’ trading floors, where they have a base to sell their produce to shopkeepers and restaurants directly. For example, there are nearly 170 producers with a permanent base at Rungis Market; this allows them to sell their productions to many different customers, including for export. Some of them work with the Market’s international customers, who can sometimes represent up to 40% of their turnover.
With the creation of the “Halles du Sud – Ouest” (South-West Markets) brand, the Toulouse Wholesale Market is very involved in this product-sector approach. “Our differentiation strategy is a major element of our commercial offer,” explains the market’s director, Paul Mirous. “Local productions represent the marketing plus in terms of diversity and quality, which should help the entire sector’s positioning at each stage of the distribution. New societal tendencies have led us to see the short channel trend as a long-term market trend that cannot be ignored, and our future actions will aim to promote the growth of local productions.”

The wholesale markets’ role and their vocation is still to promote the products qualitatively, particularly French produce, as I have seen at Rungis. If there is a lack of sufficient French produce on the Wholesale Markets, their future may be jeopardized. Not to mention the important role they have to play in the short channels. The wholesalers have a role to play in the new approach to food that is taking shape, but it must be in partnership with the producers and with the prospect of specialized Wholesale Markets. Nevertheless, the Wholesale Markets need to make collective efforts in terms of image and communication to become better known.”  The product quality recognized by all is only rendered possible by having adequate logistics and a continuous improvement service policy. dossierD
On the Wholesale Markets of France, we sell products in bulk, but we also know how to prepare, cut, package and deliver them; in a word we transform and adapt them to the demand and to new consumption trends. In these exceptional places, we manage flows, mass distribute, we host the offices of trade organizations and certain public services like the veterinary services, and we train youth. At Rungis there are many training centres dedicated to tomorrow’s fishmongers, restaurant owners, salespeople and import-export or logistics specialists. The Wholesale Markets ar the temples of French food know-how, the unique defenders of our gastronomy and our food, of course. They are real competence centres!
Furthermore, the Wholesale Market operators are particularly respectful and attentive to food safety and health standards and rules. The concentration of the parties involved simplifies the set up and use of common services that are easier to access (cold chain, traceability, onsite health services and controls, cleaning services, etc.).
The quality, traceability and safety of the food products reflect the commercial strategy of the Lille Wholesale Market, which created a quality charter called ASHA (Action Sécurité Hygiène Alimentaire) as of 2003, in partnership with the Institut Pasteur in Lille, as its director, Didier Delmotte, explains: “Our ASHA quality charter brings the consumer the guarantee of the Intitut Pasteur of Lille on several fruit and vegetables (potatoes, citrus fruit, peaches, nectarines, apples, kiwis) in terms of  calories, nutritional qualities, vitamin and LMR (maximum residue level) content, with the commitment to be two times lower than the French and European standards. It brings together producers, operators, shopkeepers, consumers and UFC Que Choisir as a partner. Sold only on our Market at the price of normal products, our ASHA products are stamped by ASHA, Institut Pasteur in Lille, Lille Wholesale Market and the producer. In addition to the communication on these products, a website will soon be devoted to them (where to find them, recipes, nutrition department, etc.). This charter will be expanded to other products and we hope it will be copied by other Wholesale Markets in France».

“The thirteen hectares of our Wholesale Market are integrated into the urban fabric of the city of Bordeaux, after having been at the city’s southern border. The city and the surrounding areas have been rethought, the urban centrality has evolved and our positioning has changed. Our Market has actually been through several operating and rehabilitation stages since it opened in 1963. Today, the Market’s design and its structures integrate some harsh economic realities (globalization, importation, etc.) rendered necessary in the context of a vast urban development project of 150 hectares around Bordeaux called Euratlantique, which will encompass our Wholesale Market (in an initial area of 50 hectares). It will align perfectly with the project in architectural and functional terms, while promising for our part a great permeability between the Market and the environment, so that it opens on the city and in the city. By its function, the Wholesale Market sets the pace for everyday living and its place is in the city, in an open, acknowledged place. It must be integrated into the city and participate in urban life.”

Lastly, let’s not forget that the Wholesale Markets of France are considerable centres of business and development. They account for over 26 000 permanents jobs on all the sites and they continue to represent a real social ladder for many employees.
The Rouen Wholesale Market (9th largest in France) has adopted an important strategic plan to modernize and increase business that fully integrates sustainable development and environmental protection. “For the last ten years, we have been modernizing our Market, to expand business and product lines, and to develop services,” explains Dominique Haug, director of the Rouen market, “while aiming for sustainable development and environmental protection. Among others, our efforts include:
-renovating and upgrading the Seafood pavilion to meet standards, using ecological, safe materials,
- insulating the fruit and vegetable pavilions and the administrative tower,
- developing local market garden productions and an organic sector,
- the development and diversification of the flower market,
- establishing a carbon footprint (using less polluting lorries, non-road diesel for pallet trucks, washing station with hydrocarbon recycling, plan to pool haulage means and deliveries by electric vehicles, etc.),
- waste collection, treatment and recycling,
- a partnership with food banks (collecting unsold fruit and vegetables for the poor),
- greening the site and making a rainwater and runoff reservoir. (Source: Les Marchés de Gros de France)

• 232 hectares
• 959 000 m² occupied
• 1 200 opérators
• 7.7 billion euros turnover
• 11 700 permanent jobs
• 170 producers trading
• 25 000 buyers
• 40 million euros invested in 2010
• 26 000 véhicles/day