At the invitation of Fruchthof Berlin Verwaltungsgenossenschaft eG and Berliner Großmarkt GmbH, the annual general meeting of the Federal Association GFI German Fresh Markets took place from 26 to 27 September 2019 in the federal capital. The hosts welcomed around 25 representatives from wholesale and weekly market operators to discuss the work of the business units and the numerous projects of the network.
On the first day of the meeting, statutory topics, membership development, events, campaigns, study trips and the work of the business units were on the agenda. On the second day of the meeting, members discussed common marketing issues and international cooperation issues, in particular the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM).
Uwe Kluge, Chairman of the GFI Board and Managing Director of Duisburg Kontor GmbH, drew a very positive conclusion from the meeting: "As always, our meeting was varied, intense and productive. We are going into our future with great energy and collegial unity."
New members
Regarding new memberships; two new market operators were acquired as ordinary members: the Marktamt Nürnberg (wholesale market and weekly markets) and "Diemarktplaner" from Berlin (weekly markets). In terms of supporting members, the association welcomed the UGM Umschlagzentrum Großmarkt München GbR.
Continuity within the Management Board
Boris Schwartz, 2nd Plant Manager of the Markhallen Munich, and Rolf Strobel, Managing Director of the Frischezentrum Essen GmbH, were unanimously confirmed in their office. They form the five-member GFI board together with Uwe Kluge, Eliane Steinmeyer, managing director of the Hamburg wholesale market and Jörn Böttcher, managing director of the wholesale market Hannover.
GFI divisions
The GFI divisions "Wholesale Markets" and "Weekly Markets" dealt extensively with the efficiency and effectiveness of their markets. For Weekly Markets, there was a GFI strategy meeting in June, which provided new impetus for community work. These will be integrated into the "Experience Your Market" campaign in 2020. In the wholesale markets, the "Vitamin G as wholesale market" campaign will be further expanded with new measures.
GFI study trips
The annual GFI study trips to European market metropolises have become a popular GFI service. After London 2016, Madrid 2017, Athens 2018 and Lisbon 2019, German market managers will visit Bologna in 2020.
Excursions and expertise
The general meeting was accompanied by a top-class excursion and information program. The early morning tour over the Berlin Wholesale Market led to visits by the companies Wache and Deutsche See as well as the Berliner Tafel. There were also two expert lectures: Frank Müller, Scientific Advisory Council of the BEM Bundesverband eMobilität e.V. explained the latest technical trends in e-vans. And Florian Niedermeier, Managing Director of Markthalle Neun GmbH, gave an insight into the networks of the Berlin food industry.
The next general meeting will take place in the autumn of 2020, in Hamburg.