International
Partnerships
2009 reports
Rungis is a market, of course, but it is also a know-how that has been exported for 40 years. In 2009, the specialized department, Rungis Consultant continued its consultancy and appraisal work, principally in China.
China effectively represents over 70% of SEMMARIS international activity, entrusted to Rungis Consultant. The objectives are to capitalize on Rungis’ experience to offer clients a complete consultancy service, from feasibility studies to operation, including building wholesale markets.
The largest project in 2009 was the cooperation between SEMMARIS and SZAP (Shenzhen Agricultural Products Company), the leading operator of wholesale markets in China. This partnership should cover the operation of three wholesale markets in particular:
- Nanning, in the south, may notably develop trade with Vietnam. The general layout of this 42-hectare site has been finalized, leading to the start of the first phase of works, which is scheduled to commence at the end of 2010.
- Tianjin, the fifth largest port in the world, located 120 kilometres south-east of Beijing, will be an even bigger project, covering about 200 hectares. Its location, general programme and layout have been defined and it is now time to finalize the business model and set up the investment and development companies.
- Changsha, Mao Tse-Tsung’s city, in the centre of the western part of China, will host a market of 100 hectares, representing nearly one third of a gigantic logistics hub for the food industry.
Other studies have been launched in several Chinese cities and in other countries:
- In the Ukraine, after study missions in Odessa and Kiev, a second mission successfully surveyed a 170-hectare plot just 30 kilometres west of Kiev at the end of 2009.
- In Russia, another mission started to reorganize an existing 20-hectare food logistics hub in Moscow.
The 4th Rungis Meetings
during the World Congress for wholesale markets
Rungis hosted the second General Meeting of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) in 2009. For its fortieth anniversary, SEMMARIS chose to schedule the fourth edition of the Rungis Meetings on the strategic issue of: “What is the future of wholesale markets?” 250 participants, including 170 congress participants from five continents attended a day of round table discussions, based on a study of 3 wholesale markets (Rungis, New Covent Garden and Mercamadrid) by HEC Junior Conseil. Four major themes were discussed: the challenges of new distribution methods, sustainable logistics, upstream wholesaler relations and brand strategies.
