Richard Frowein is the founder of RFW, a company who represent southern hemisphere exporters on the French market. In 1996, after the deregulation in South Africa, he was one of the leading providers of South African fruits, today he used his experience in the industry to develop the chain to the right customers in the French Markets. 
“With the actual economic conditions, South African exporters have seen their shipments to France decrease. Regulatory factors, the exchange rate in the past 4 years and the overhead costs (trucking, handling, repacking) of the French companies which are high, compared to other northern of European companies, have not helped the French trader on their return price to the growers. In addition, since 2008, the credit limit insurance and the numbers of players has decreased. Also the French phytosanitary regulations are strict on the quality of the fruits imported which is not helping the French traders to import their own fruits through French ports." Richard goes on to explain that some of the French supermarkets are still buying as they did some years ago, based only a daily price deal and not on other aspects such as quality/size/variety/globalgap certification/traceability/pesticide reference etc. which, he says, is not helping the exporters or importers to organized their programs.
This is why, according to Richard, the South African exporters are using Dutch or German traders as middlemen instead of going straight to the French traders.
“When the current global markets situation is under pressure there are a lot of challenges, maybe the French market might be one with new challenges in the coming years," concludes Richard.
For more information:
Richard Frowein
RFW France
TEL +33 1 41 14 41 73
TEL +33 6 40 23 50 91
Richard@rfwholding.com
Skyp : richardfrowein