“A retail revolution is underway in the UK and Europe, and the traditional supply chain is changed forever,” said Tommy Leighton, managing director, Produce Business UK, fresh off the London Produce Show, where attendees spanned 40 countries. Leighton and Jim Prevor, president & editor-in-chief of Produce Business, provided a riveting report of the disruptive global industry landscape at the recent Food Marketing Institute/United Fresh Show in Chicago.
“Many new markets in Europe are being neglected by suppliers in the U.S.,” said Prevor, who led the session, in a prelude to the inaugural Amsterdam Produce Show, held November 2-4, 2016. A throng of “interlopers” (deep discounters, internet retailers, upscale, experimental venues, food service operators, even wholesalers) are rocking traditional mores, creating challenges and opportunities across the supply chain, said Prevor. “It is critical to keep close track of Europe to capitalize on fast-moving and unexpected needs across diverse markets.”
The United Fresh session included a case study on the turn of events of U.S. apple exports to the UK market. “Tough standards in the UK and EU led to major cuts,” said Jim Allen, president of the NY Apple Association. “Business was valuable but diminished over the years due to residue/postharvest treatment restrictions, and the big retailers requiring the same prices year-round,” he said. “I don’t think our UK business will come back. Other impacts included new varieties from Europe, and trade barriers intertwined with politics to stop imports,” said Allen, acknowledging, “We were collateral damage.”
In the greater picture, there is no need to despair. The avenues for growth in Europe are bountiful for those in the know, according to Prevor. “Our new show in Amsterdam will open fulcrums of commerce and exchange of ideas, connecting people from iconic cities and culinary capitals, and attract innovators from around the world,” he says.
As a thank you to those who came to the United Fresh session, Produce Business held a surprise drawing for an all-expense-paid trip to attend the Amsterdam Show —extending the diversity of networking possibilities. The winner was Maureen Torrey Marshall of Torrey Farms, a 10,000-acre, vertical operation of growing, packing, marketing and transportation, based in Elba, New York.
Source: PerishableNews.com
