NETWORKS
FAO AND WUWM RENEW THEIR COOPERATION
On 16 August 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) renewed their collaboration.
Within the framework of this partnership, work activities during year one will bring in a focus on promoting awareness and advocacy to reduce food loss and waste.
- Food loss and waste webinars will be held
- WUWM members will also be introduced to technical resources
- WUWM members will have the opportunity to join the Community of Practice on Food Loss and Waste
- Senior FAO officials are expected to contribute as high-level speakers to the 2023 International WUWM Cancun Conference
EXCHANGE ACROSS ALL BORDERS: WUWM
The World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) came into existence in 1955 as a non-profit organisation.
As an international umbrella association, WUWM unites the most important fresh food centres in the world and promotes a reciprocal exchange of best practices The association informs and inspires through congresses, meetings, reports and studies, helps in setting up, organising, managing and refining markets and supports its members with targeted lobby work. At official WUWM conferences, those in senior positions discuss current developments in the course of presentations and panel discussions with first-class panelists. Currently, there is lively interest to be seen from the so-called BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). Hamburg’s wholesale market plays an active role in the work of the association as a member of the WUWM’s management body, the Board of Directors.
- International umbrella association of wholesale markets
- Over 200 members from 42 countries
- Promotion of dialogue between members through congresses, meetings, reports and studies
- Technical support in setting up, managing and expanding markets lobby work
NETWORKED THROUGHOUT GERMANY: BDF
Representing common interests, exploiting synergies: This is the idea behind Bundesverband der Frischemärkte (BDF) e. V. [Federal Association of Fresh Food Markets].
The former GFI was set up in 2000 as the marketing association for German wholesale markets, and restructured in 2010. Retail markets were now also admitted, and the tasks of the association were more broadly defined. The association sees itself as a partner network which offers its members broad, institutionalised knowledge transfer on central questions of trade management, organises joint presentation platforms — such as the collective stand at Fruit Logistica or the website www.bundesverband-frischemaerkte.de — and supports collaborations with domestic and international producers.
- The umbrella association of the most important fresh food markets in Germany
- Promoting dialogue on a national level
- Swapping experience and transferring knowledge on central questions of trade marketing
- Central point of contact for collaborations
- and marketing measures across the country
- Collective stand at Fruit Logistica
25 Years in the Service of Freshness – BDF e. V.
The association of German-speaking wholesale markets, weekly markets, and market halls is celebrating its 25th anniversary while simultaneously ushering in a new era. By renaming GFI to the “German Fresh Markets Association (BDF) e. V.”, the organization emphasizes its future direction and expanded commitment to making the importance of markets even more visible and strengthening them further.
“Our markets are far more than places of trade,” says Uwe Kluge, who has served as Chairman of the Board for 20 years. “They are the heart of vibrant cities, strong drivers of regional value creation, and key pillars of sustainable, crisis-resilient local supply. A strong network of fresh markets means quality of life, supply security, and future viability for our cities.”
