Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The Fruit and Vegetables Wholesaling industry has endured a tough time during the last five years. Since 2007-08, a severe economic downturn has heavily constrained consumer spending, resulting in many people reducing their consumption of fruit and vegetables. Consumption had already been declining prior to this as consumers ate more fast food. Wholesalers have had to contend with sharply rising fruit and vegetable prices over the five year period, which has constrained profitability, as supermarket power and the soft economy limited their ability to pass costs on to consumers. To make matters worse, supermarkets have taken advantage of their increasing market power to bypass wholesalers and deal directly with farmers and fruit growers... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Analysis Chapter
During 2012-13, the average household will spend £6.05 on fresh fruit and vegetables each week, accounting for approximately 12% of total expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks. This has fallen by about 9% since 2008-09 as fresh fruit and vegetable consumption has declined. Persistently weak consumer conditions have heavily constrained demand for fresh fruit and vegetables from supermarkets and greengrocers as consumers have traded down to cheaper processed and frozen fruit and vegetables. Wholesalers have also had to contend with sharply rising fruit and vegetable prices, resulting in declining profitability as torrid economic conditions limited retailers' ability to pass these costs on to consumers... purchase to read more