The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

History of the Birmingham Markets

Birmingham enters the historic record in 1086 as a small hamlet, worth 20 shillings in the Domesday Book. However, the transformation of this hamlet, modest by even contemporary Warwickshire standards, into the modern commercial and industrial City of today, effectively starts with the purchase of a Royal Charter by Peter de Birmingham in 1166 from Henry II, granting a weekly market. There is considerable debate as to whether the Charter, one of the earliest granted in English history, was recognition of an existing market dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period, the market of the Beormingas (Gill), or it reflects astute political arbitrage on the part of Peter, achieving ascendancy over much larger nearby settlements, such as Aston or Northfield. Lawsuits in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries attest to a much earlier market, however while the first charter of 1166 grants Peter the right to hold a market at his Castle (in Latin, castru, probably referring to a moated manor house), the confirmation of the charter in 1186, permits the market to be held (significantly) at his Villa. The use of the term Villa, indicate that following the granting of the Charter, de Birmingham actually founded a new town around the Bull Ring (Holt). In the absence of contradictory archaeologically evidence, it suggests de Birmingham was responsible for one of the first planned town developments in English history the triangular Bull Ring site. While a definitive version of the origins of Birmingham is likely to remain elusive, it is clear that the creation of the markets acted as a catalyst, fostering economic clusters that provided the impetus for the establishment of Birmingham as the modern commercial centre. Throughout the subsequent medieval period, the markets are likely to have focused largely on agricultural produce, with the fact that lawsuits in 1285 and 1308 were over stolen livestock, suggests trade was robust and brisk. In 1250, Birmingham was granted the right to hold a Whitsun fair, by the fourteenth century was awarded a Michaelmas fair, and by the 16th century the general markets had become three specialised markets, a Cornmarket, a Welshmarket and a English market (Lambert), with butchers shambles and a fish market recorded from the eighteenth century. Up until the nineteenth century, the markets were held in the public thoroughfares of the town centre, which proved increasingly untenable as the urban population expanded. The establishment of the Birmingham Street Commissioners (in 1769), ensured that these problems would be tackled, leading to their assumption of the collection of tolls in 1806 and the purchasing of the marketing rights from the Lord of the Manor in 1824, these rights and responsibilities transferred to the then newly established Birmingham Corporation in 1854. Most significant, was in 1816 the purchase of the Birmingham Manor House site by the Commissioners, which allowed for concentration of the markets, and ultimately the creation of the modern integrated markets again one of the first in English town planning history. A year later opened the Smithfield Cattle Market on the site which now forms part of the Wholesale Markets Precinct. The Old St. Martins Market was used as a Wholesale Market until 1897. The Wholesale Fish Market in Bell Street was opened in 1869 and demolished in 1958. St. Martins Lane opened in 1883 and was divided into two sections, the larger upper part forming the Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market, and the lower part, bordering Moat Row, initially used as a toll market for farmers and growers. The lower part was also home to the retail Rag Market each Tuesday and Saturday afternoon selling clothing, hardware and manufactured goods. A Cattle and Pig Market in Montague Street was opened in 1892. The City Meat Market and Abattoir in Bradford Street opened in 1897 The deterioration of the old Smithfield and City Meat Markets, the loss of the Fish Markets in Bell Street for the new Inner Road, and congestion of the narrow streets around the wholesale area, all led to the decision to build a new Wholesale Market complex. In February 1974 phase 1 of the scheme, the New Fish, Meat and Poultry Markets, was opened for trade. This was followed in 1975 by the Horticultural Market and finished with the completion of the ancillary warehousing.

2 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Contents
The Essential Catalyst ............................................................................... 1 History of the Birmingham Markets ............................................... 2 Contents ................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ..................................................................................... 7 Wholesale Markets: The Economic Impact............................... 8
National Context ............................................................................................... 8 A Catalyst for Creating Value ..................................................................... 10 Current Structure of the Retail and Wholesale Markets Sector ... 11 An extensive catchment area .................................................................... 12 A National Contribution................................................................................ 13 Market Regeneration Potential ................................................................. 14 Delivering Competitive Advantage .......................................................... 15 Encompassing a Wider Locality ............................................................... 16 National Policy Issues .................................................................................. 16 EU Policy Issues .............................................................................................. 17 The Essential Catalyst .................................................................................. 18

Horticultural Section ................................................................................ 21 Meat Market .................................................................................................... 23 Poultry Market .............................................................................................. 24 Flowers ................................................................................................................ 25 Future Prospects.......................................................................................... 26 The Market Traders ................................................................................... 27

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 3

4 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Introduction
Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association, which represents the majority of Birminghams Wholesale Market Traders have commissioned this study to initiate greater awareness and stimulate understanding by the public and policy makers, of the Markets importance to Birmingham and the national food-supply chain. Key findings of the study are that the Wholesale Market, are an important catalyst for the economic well being of Birmingham. Its importance is underlined by around 15,000 jobs in Birmingham and beyond being dependent on it continuing to flourish. Its contribution to the multicultural vibrancy of Birmingham is also vital as it serves the needs of the ethnic minority communities across the Midlands. It also provides important access to low cost fresh produce and is a critical component of the wider markets community in Birmingham. Furthermore our integrated Markets, providing fruit and vegetable, fish, poultry, meat and flower trading operations on one site has been seen as the template for other wholesale markets around the world and is something Birmingham should be proud of. Our heritage is at stake as well as the livelihoods of many. In the restaurant and hospitality sector, particularly in the Asian and Chinese communities as well as other minorities, there is a particular reliance on the Wholesale Markets. We need a financial commitment from the Council to either spend money on taking our current site forward into the next decades, or give funding to build or buy a new site as previously promised, if this does not happen there will be no market, resulting in large job losses and increasing food costs. We must find a long term solution to the future of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets in the interests of all of our stakeholders. Why if all the UKs large cities (such as Manchester, for instance) have, and fund, a wholesale market - cant Birmingham do the same? The City and the Markets of Birmingham are synonymous for a very good reason: both owe each other their existence - it may never be possible to prove which came first. Indeed, the Bull Ring may be one of the earliest examples of commercial town planning in English history. Mark Tate, Chairman Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association The 1974 development of the Pershore Street site established the current Markets configuration, and this continues to be a model others seek to emulate. To maintain the effectiveness of the Markets further, development and refurbishment will however be essential. If this re-development is to be successful, we need to understand not just the commercial structure and impact of the Markets, but also the critical, but often overlooked, economic role undertaken both at a City-level and in the national context. We believe that a solution can and must be found in the interests of our City and the wider community.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 5

The Markets are a vital part of our local economy, supporting an ecosystem of small firms in Birmingham and beyond and thousands of jobs. Professor David Bailey

6 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Executive Summary
The rebalancing of the English economy currently underway, will ultimately have an impact on the structure of the food supply chain, which will have to respond to shifts in both demographic and consumption patterns. This will provide key opportunities to expand and develop the role and contribution of Wholesale Fresh Produce Markets in the effective delivery of fresh produce, both to consumers and processors.
However, the dearth of data on the wholesale markets sector makes it difficult to accurately assess their real contribution to the wider economy. Nevertheless, according to DEFRA, the food and drink wholesale sector, continues, to play a significant, varied and continually over-looked role in the UKs food supply chain. Wholesale markets also play a critical function ensuring a range of sources and product diversity in the food supply chain. As the largest integrated Markets in the UK, and indeed one of the largest in Europe, Birminghams catchment area is by the far the greatest, encompassing close to 6 million people. Most notably: With an aggregate turnover of 275 million comprising 73 trading operations it employs close to 1,100 people. Provides fresh produce to close to 5,000 independent small businesses in the retail, restaurant and food outlet sectors. Whilst supporting an estimated 15,000 jobs in the wider economy. Critically, it constitutes a viable and sustainable entrepreneurial SME cluster in the heart of Birmingham, able to react rapidly to new demand and supply opportunities. By providing a competitive but accessible entry route to the formal economy for SME start-ups and new entrants, it offers the potential for an organic selfsustaining regeneration in the wider Digbeth area, maximising the impact of public finance, but also attracting latent private sector funds. Moreover, as the nexus of a robust and proven transport infrastructure, the Markets could provide the catalyst for the development of a vibrant and dynamic Digbeth. Already attracting 13,000 visitors a week, growth in the Markets would provide a major stimulus to the local economy. A key driver of price competitiveness, flexibility and heterogeneity in the food-supply chain, both locally and nationally, the wholesale markets offer significant opportunities for creating value-added output downstream in the food-supply chain. Whist at the same time, it provides an important source of City Centre employment demand, especially for the young. Given the increasing pressure on the High Street chains and further price wars between the large retail multiples, wholesale markets provide an important buffer of immediately deliverable extra capacity, at a time when food security issues are increasingly coming to the fore.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 7

Wholesale Markets: The Economic Impact

National Context
The structure of the English economy is currently undergoing profound change. In contrast to the long boom period of the 1990s and 2000s, the lingering impact of the 2007 credit crunch ensures that economic growth prospects are likely to remain compressed over the medium-term. This in itself will have an impact on the structure of national and local food supply chains, including wholesale fresh produce markets, as well as the retail mediums by which food is delivered to consumers. A combination of fiscal retrenchment and higher costs of borrowing, given the tightening of bank capital risk requirements, will ensure that patterns of consumer spending pre-crisis are unlikely to reappear in any real strength for some considerable time. Indeed, there is continued evidence of falling average footfall for retailers in the High Street. Furthermore, the capital and land intensive approach adopted by the retail multiples may no longer prove to be as successful a model for delivery of fresh food. Whatever the sustainability of this approach, market penetration by these retail multiples is close to saturation point at 80%, beyond this peak it is possible to see new, or older revived, forms of food distribution. The performance of wholesale markets overall should therefore be seen in the context of what is happening to retail demand generally, where an extended and protracted contraction has taken place. Despite the modest improvement in economic performance recorded last year, registered footfall has continued to contract a trend evident since the onset of the recession with only a modest softening in the rate of decline recorded in footfall surveys undertaken by the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM). With any economic recovery at best stuttering in the second half of 2011 and problematic into 2012-13, concern is being raised over the potential long-term structural damage being sustained in the wider retail sector. The ATCM have also concluded that regional cities are sustaining an even harder contraction than urban centres generally. While some erosion is conceivable over the medium-term, the predominance of the national retail multiples is expected to continue. This visible predominance of the retail multiples, has coincided with an apparent decline in both independent High Street ventures and Retail Markets, with an assumed consequent decline in the role of the Wholesale Markets. According to the latest available information produced by IGD Research, at an aggregate level, grocery wholesale trading, undertaken by all operations including wholesale fresh produce markets, continued grow even after the onset of the economic contraction.
High St Footfall (%,y-o-y)
2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12

ar

ar

ov n10

ov n11

ay

ar

ay

Ju

ay

n09

Ju

Se

Se

Ja

Source: ATCM.

Ja

The hidden jewel of the Birmingham economy Malcolm Harbour MEP

8 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Ja

Ju

Grocery Wholesaling Market Growth ( bn)

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1.4% 1.3% 1.3% 0.6% 2% 3.3% 2.7% 1.9% 1.8% 2.9% 4.1% 4.5% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5%

A key issue remains that in comparing the role of wholesale markets to their nearest economic equivalent, the distribution centres of the retail multiples, is like with like is not being compared. Wholesale markets are essentially organic entities comprising a range and number of medium-sized enterprises operating in positions of mutually-sustained but competitive rivalry, developed over decades, and in some cases hundreds of years. Distribution centres in contrast are mechanistic links, internal to individual commercial conglomerates, and respond to management information With wholesale markets reacting much more to the hidden-hand of the market, in marked contrast the mathematical predictions of the retail multiples, it is difficult to state what the real, as opposed to the recorded, contribution of wholesale markets is to the creation of gross valued-added (GVA) in the wider economy. This has considerable consequences for economic development at both local and national levels. The public sectors evidencedspread-sheet based approach, is heavily reliant on ONS datasets and so probably fails to account for the cumulative impact of the retail and wholesale markets in the food supply chain. As the recent financial crises have demonstrated, failing to address specific economic factors simply because existing statistical data collation does not properly account for them is a risk laden dangerous strategy. In the case of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets, the public sectors absence of understanding of their real role extends even as far as the number of people directly employed on the site flows on structured predictions of company-specific consumer demand, rather than directly to the consumer. Furthermore, the distribution centres have a preference for just-in-time parameter-compressed delivery systems, usually based on sole-purchaser contracts. This approach has inherent inflexibilities and is increasingly proving to be found wanting in other sectors of the economy (most notably, the automotive), exposing the food supply chain to potentially catastrophic interruptions of supply. Similarly, the capital-intensive, credit-thirsty approach adopted by the retail multiples, in an environment where access to credit remains problematic (and could indeed prove increasingly fraught), places further systemic risk of a collapse, if not on par with Royal Bank of Scotland, then at least with Woolworths.

19

98

9 99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

0.0%

Source: IGD Research

A problem with analysis of the sector is the dearth of accurate trend series data and a limited amount of rigourous research into the various roles performed and critically, the impact of Birmingham Wholesale Markets, either nationally or locally. The large retail multiplies require and generate huge amounts of consumer-based data (with varying degrees of accuracy), that is an essential part of their business management strategies treating the consumer as a number. Retail market traders as small enterprises and wholesale markets traders as medium-sized enterprises do not require such extensive data resources to respond to market demand respecting the consumer as an individual.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 9

A Catalyst for Creating Value

The biggest distinction is in terms of the potential value-added and employment multiplier impact of the different forms of food distribution. The distribution centres operate within enclosed corporate systems, whereas the wholesale markets are more open to the wider economy and individual private-sector actors. Crucially, not only do the Markets provide ease of access to start-ups and new entrants, but they allow employment opportunities and value-added creation in the retail and catering sector in the wider economy for entrepreneurs, regardless of the limitations of their initial start-up resources. In the case of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets, the potential opportunity gains are maximised in that it offers a range of fresh produce encompassing fruit,
The Wholesale Market is a Brummie institution it is in the heart of the city and serves a thriving and diverse community Shabana Mahmood

vegetables, meat, fish, poultry and flowers which most other English wholesale markets cannot offer. Even taking account concerns surrounding ONS data records, the latest releases indicate that food & drink wholesaling contributes about 11% of GVA in the UK agri-food sector (beyond the farm gate). With the role of wholesaling in the earlier part of the food-supply chain, the provision of fresh produce by wholesale markets contributes to GVA in both the food & drink retailing and non-residential catering, and to a much lesser extent in food & drink manufacturing. Constraining access to the competitive pricing offered by these markets, will in turn constrain the capacity to generate GVA further down the food supply chain, thereby reducing overall levels of productivity.

GVA - UK agri-food sector (2009)

Non-Residential Food & Drink Retailing 28% Catering 24%

Moreover, little analysis appears to have been undertaken on the direct costs of the dramatic expansion of the retail multiples to the public exchequer in terms of the expenditure impact of revised priorities for transport infrastructure, utilities, planning, environment, business rates and funding inducements. In contrast, the organic nature of wholesale markets offers a sustainable approach, where weaknesses are quickly identified, capital and credit demands are comparatively light, demands on public funds are specific and finite, although obviously provision of suitable sites is crucial.
Source: DEFRA

Agriculture & Fishing Food & Drink Wholesaling 11% Food & Drink Manufacturing 29% 8%

10 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Current Structure of the Retail and Wholesale Markets Sector

The food and drink wholesale sector, of which the Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Markets are a part, continues (according to DEFRA), to play a significant, varied and continually over-looked role in the UKs food supply chain. Wholesaling is generally defined as an economic activity in which goods are sold in bulk quantities and has been a significant part of the food supply chain since modern

urbanisation commenced. It now encompasses warehousing, transportation, product consolidation and inventory management. The emergence of the large retail multiples, especially over the past couple of decades has seen the dominance of traditional wholesaling end, but it nevertheless remains a significant and key component of this supply chain. According to the latest available official information, total consumer expenditure in the UK on food, drink and catering services is equivalent to

182 billion annually. Food and drink wholesalers provide 9.3 billion of GVA per annum, supplying both the catering service sector and food and drink retailers. Given the size of the West Midlands economy (7.4% of national GVA), the equivalent figures are estimated to be close to 13.5 billion for the sector as a whole regionally and 688 million for the wholesaling segment regionally. Putting, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets into this context, their aggregate turnover is 275 million annually.

Economic Summary of UK food chain beyond agriculture

UK Consumers 62 million people

Exports (a) 15.9bn of which: Unprocessed 1.4bn Lightly processed 5.7bn Highly processed 8.8bn

Total Consumers Expenditure on food, drink & catering services 182bn

Consumers Expenditure on catering services 78.9bn

Household Expenditure on food & drink 103.2bn

Caterers (restaurants, cafes, canteens) Gross value added 20.4bn Employees 1,338,000 Enterprises 113,953 Catering Outlets 396,259

Food & Drink Retailers Gross value added 23.5bn Employees 1,146,000 Enterprises 52,552 Stores 91,509

Food & Drink Wholesalers (includes agents) Gross value added 9.3bn Employees 180,000 Enterprises 15,326

Food and Drink Manufacturing Includes everything from primary processing (milling, malting, slaughtering) to complex prepared foods. Many products will go through several stages. Employees 382,000 Gross value added 23.9bn Enterprises 7,261 Manufacturing sites/factories 9,480
Excludes sectors downstream from food & drink manufacturing such as food, drink, supply & processing industry

Imports Unprocessed 6.4bn Lightly processed 15.4bn Highly processed 11.9bn

Source: Defra (latest data up to Q1 2011)

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 11

UK Primary Wholesale Markets 2011

England
London Birmingham

Of which: Billingsgate (fish) Borough (fruit & veg) New Spitalfields (fruit & veg) Western International (fruit & veg) Smithfield (meat) New Covent Garden (fruit & veg)

Derby

Leicester

Nottingham

Liverpool

Manchester

Blackburn

Preston

Bradford

Sheffield

Leeds

Hull

Bristol

Brighton

Southampton

Gateshead

N Ireland

Wales

Scotland

Belfast

Cardiff

Glasgow

Source: DEFRA/NABMA/Forrest Research

An extensive catchment area

The 1994 Strathclyde Report identified Nevertheless, accurately defining the contribution of the wholesale fresh produce markets sector remains more problematic. Most commentators, at least in the UK, make the distinction between primary and secondary wholesale markets, although even here there is some debate as to what constitutes a primary wholesale market. It is also important to recognise that the retail multiples carry out many wholesale market functions internally and trade directly with producers. 34 primary markets, which by 2011 had declined to 25, according to the National Association of British Market Authorities. Studies undertaken in 2005 by Nick Rhodes of the Retail Enterprise Network and, subsequently in 2009 by Julie Smith of the Countryside & Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, in consultation with various market professionals, identified a similar number. The distribution and catchment areas of the wholesale markets is however, skewed with considerable variation in the geographic range and population served. The North West (population 6.9 million) is served by four markets with Manchester the predominant; while in the East Midlands (population 4.5 million) wholesale market provision comprise

three primary markets; Yorkshire (population 5.3 million) has four markets; the North East (population 2.6 million) has one, some define, two markets; the East (population 5.8 million) none and is probably serviced by the six London markets (population 7.8 million) which serves a significant proportion of the South East (population 8.5 million), which has two markets at Brighton and Southampton. The South West (population 5.3 million) is serviced both from Bristol and Southampton Birmingham alone services the West Midlands population of 5.5 million, as well as the mid-third of Wales and the northerly parts of the South West. Accordingly, of all the English regions, as well as the UK as a whole, Birminghams catchment area is by the far the greatest, and moreover as the largest integrated market, offers the most diverse range of produce.

12 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

I grew up being taken to the markets. I have seen the area evolve and the people grow with it. Birmingham City Council does not seem to realise the implications of their actions. Geographically the market serves to cities and towns across a massive patch of the UK Glynn Purnell

A National Contribution
Despite the caveats regarding the comprehensiveness and reliability of data on the sector, both the retail and wholesale markets continue to make a considerable contribution to the wider economy. In the 2009 research undertaken by the Retail Markets Alliance, as part of the Markets 21 project, calculated that the annual contribution to the economy in 2009 was of the order 7.6 billion. Of this some 3.5 billion of turnover was attributed to retail markets and 4.1 billion to the wholesale sector. The 25 identified primary wholesale markets (in the United Kingdom as a whole) provided fresh produce to 1,124 traditional retail markets, which comprise approximately 46,000 retail traders who employ 95,000 people directly. Of the 25 recognised

wholesale markets, these comprised 1,000 wholesale businesses employing an estimated 10,000 people directly. With 73 wholesale traders, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets constitute 7.5% of the total traders nationally, employ over 10% of the total wholesale labour-force, generating close to 7% of the national wholesale market turnover. Assuming retail market traders secure the bulk of their saleable produce from wholesale markets, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets most probably support close to 100 retail markets, and although farmers and country markets have limited interaction with Wholesale Markets, the catchment area most probably encompasses close to 2,000 retail traders. Accordingly, assuming an average number of employees working for each

of these traders of 2.5 full-time equivalents (FTE), at least some 5,000 FTE jobs are supported by the Birmingham Wholesale Markets. Further research would probably suggest that given the considerable distance between Birmingham and neighbouring wholesale markets, and its integrated structure, that it serves a greater number of local retail markets, than neighbouring ones and thus the employment multiplier for Birmingham is much greater. Other than direct employment staffing market stalls, there are obviously an array of related ancillary and support activities (listed below). It can be conservatively estimated that a minimum of a further 0.25 FTEs per retail trader are reliant on the Birmingham Markets, a further potential 500 FTEs within the catchment area at risk from dislocation of continued activity of the markets.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 13

Market Regeneration Potential

It seems clear the multiplier effect in terms of both labour and gross value added GVA must be comparatively strong when compared to other sectors of the economy. This is amply demonstrated for GVA productivity for wholesalers generally, which compares favourably with the manufacturing sector. Wholesale markets, after all only exist as conduits in food supply and production chain. While in terms of GVA, it may not be dramatic as the higher end GVA manufacturing processes, it is undoubtedly providing the basis for higher GVA to be achieved in further downstream services activity, such as restaurants and hotels. Moreover, the wider impact of wholesale markets, in terms of the development and sustaining of economic clusters needs to be addressed. The wholesale markets provide ancillary opportunities, usually at a local level, for entrepreneurs and employment in a variety of areas such as logistics, transport, vehicle repair, utilities, administration, information technology, legal, accountancy, cleansing, waste management and so forth. As a result, the location of wholesale markets provides an economic multiplier, which effectively harnessed can become an effective catalyst for regeneration of at least the immediate locality, and in all probability the much wider catchment area. The capacity of wholesale fresh produce markets to provide sufficient inputs to generate greater volumes of GVA further down the food supply chain, is perhaps best and most simply demonstrated by the price margins (officially quoted by the ONS and DEFRA) between retail and wholesale prices for various items of fresh produce.

Total Factor Productivity Index (2000 to 2009)

115 110 105 100 95 90 85

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Manufacturing Wholesale Food industry

Source:

Retail Catering Wider economy

Wholesale & Retail Price Trends (pence per kg)

250 200 150 100 50 0

n Ja

20

11

Fe

ar

Ap

ay

Apples, cooking, per kg Tomatoes, per kg Carrots Topped-Washed

Bramleys Seedling Tomatoes Round Carrots, per kg

n Ju

20

11

Ju

Au

Se

Source: DEFRA & ONS

Birmingham must keep the thriving Wholesale markets. John Hemming MP

14 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Delivering Competitive Advantage

Notwithstanding these positive impacts, potential and real, the fragility of the wholesale markets should not be understated. Despite the comparatively low level of inputs required from either the public or private sector, the operational business environment needs to be developed sensitively and astutely. While it appears that the wholesale sector has performed better than other sectors, notably retail, access to capital investment and finance is crucial to enable the sector to take advantage of new opportunities in the food supply chain. While successful realisation of these opportunities is dependent on a range of factors, internal and external, the role of local authorities is perhaps as equally important as that of Whitehall, despite the latters national responsibility for food-supply chain security. This is only in part due to the local authority ownership of markets sites. Wholesale markets by their very nature supply to a much wider catchment area than one local authority area, there are only 22 primary wholesale markets in England, whereas there are 354 English local authorities.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 15

Map of estimated catchment area

The red line denotes approximate travelling time of 70 minutes from Birmingham Markets.

National Policy Issues

At an English-level, national policy is currently predicated on the recommendations of the Communities & Local Government Committee Inquiry into Traditional Retail Markets, although given the new policy environment this may be ultimately revised. Nevertheless, it remains a policy format which local authorities are requested to, and should observe. Specifically, this includes the recommendation that local authorities develop management models that are most appropriate to the future development of the market sites they own. The Committee recognised the paucity of available data on the economic and commercial contribution of wholesale markets and their role in developing sustainable communities. In particular, the Committee recognised Consideration of management of these markets should therefore be considered as beyond the scope of responsibility for a single local authority and is perhaps better suited to a publicprivate partnership or co-operative scheme, facilitating some form of strategic dialogue with authorities and LEPS in much the same way airport authorities have been developed locally. Furthermore, local authorities provide vital assistance in securing funding, such as via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Although ERDF funds are not available to support retail, they may be accessed for infrastructure, and business incubation, and in particular for wholesale market redevelopments. that assessing the performance of wholesale markets was more difficult than assessing the performance of hypermarkets, supermarkets, retail outlets and indeed retail markets, in which customer footfall is the main activity indicator.

Source: Forrest Research and The AA.

Encompassing a Wider Locality

In the case of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets, the number of local authorities serviced is much greater than the average of 16, given its lack of proximity to other wholesale markets. Furthermore, the relatively complex structure of the local economy, ensures the impact of wholesale markets is much greater than one local authority area and perhaps much greater than an Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area. Wholesale markets should therefore be seen as sub-national assets, or in the case of the Birmingham Markets sub-English and even sub-Welsh national economic assets

16 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

EU Policy Issues
At a European Union level, it is argued that the wholesale and retail food sector is itself still undergoing a period of structural adjustment, a result of changes in not only consumption patterns due in part to demographic shifts but also as a result of the new demand structures within the economy. This has intensified shifts talking place as a result of globalisation, changes in product technology and new methods of organising the supply chain. At a EU-level, the food industry is characterised by considerable diversity of firms and products, with small and medium-sized enterprises occupying important sectoral roles in addition to a relatively small number of very large, often globally operating companies. On the one hand, the food industry sector is relatively traditional, while on the other hand it implements advanced technologies. The EU recognises that wholesalers, along with retailers and food service companies remain significant links in the food supply chain. Indeed the EU suggests that the number of wholesalers and food service companies increased while the number of food industry enterprises and retailers decreased. The food supply chain connects three important sectors of the European economy agriculture, the food processing industry and the distribution sectors that together make more than 5% of European value-added and 7% of employment, representing an estimated 16% of European households expenditure.
The Markets provide an essential source of diversity in the food-supply chain, and are key component in ensuring security of supply. Gisela Stuart MP

According to the EU, the functioning of the food supply chain takes on increased importance in the path towards recovery from the current economic and financial crisis. High food consumer prices are a source of concern because they put pressure on household incomes in particular now at a time when an increase in consumption is needed. They are particularly hard on the most vulnerable households who spend a considerably greater proportion of their income on food. In the longer run, a better functioning food supply chain is crucial for consumers and for ensuring a sustainable distribution of value added along the chain, thus contributing towards raising its overall competitiveness. Improvements are needed urgently to avoid an escalation of consumer food prices as the recovery sets in. The EU has observed that the supply chain creates value and delivers it to customers, but it is configured by a set

of discrete activities and processes. The organisation of the food supply chain is a modular structure, between food producers, wholesalers and retailers, whereby relations between buyer and seller are entered into freely, to facilitate a mutually satisfying exchange over time, which leaves the operation and control of the two businesses substantially independent. However, the demand driven supply chain forces the suppliers to comply with the preferences of the supermarket. Yet within the EU, the number of wholesalers is still increasing, as is the turnover. The most important wholesalers are in the non-specialised group with the largest turnover, followed by wholesalers of unprocessed fruit and vegetables. The EU noted that the logistics for fresh produce is extremely critical due to the perishable nature of these products. The salvage value of last weeks or in many cases even yesterdays products is zero or even negative (waste).

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 17

The Essential Catalyst

The strengths of the Birmingham Markets as an economic catalyst, derive from the mutually competitive rivalry of the traders, the diversity of their supplies, the variety of produce available in each of the constituent markets and, crucially the economies of scale offered by the large integrated markets structure, comprising: fruit & vegetables, fish, meat, poultry and flowers. Each day a new market is created, with fresh produce arriving from suppliers located not just nationally, or within Europe, but from across the global economy, with prices moderated daily by traders, according to quality, availability and demand. Each day a new market is created as purchases are made by new buyers entering the Markets to supply food to the City and wider economy, taking advantage of the price options offered by the range of traders each day. With a minimum of over 400 goods vehicles arriving each night, the Markets are the nexus of a robust and proven logistical supply infrastructure, complemented by a City centre site that permits access to purchasers from all sectors of the economy and community via rail, bus, car, light and heavy vans and critically the adjacent retail markets of the Bull Ring. Although the Pershore Street site has been operating as a market since 1816, the current building arrangement was established in 1974, with a major refurbishment and upgrade undertaken in the 1990s. As a result, the Markets structure conforms to current best-

Wholesale Markets Turnover Distribution

Flowers 7% Fruit & Veg 53%

Dairy 1% Poultry 9%

Fish 22% Other 2%

Source: BWFPA

Meat 6%

market-practice adopted by wholesale fresh produce markets globally to ensure that their business and infrastructure strategies are sustainable. Indeed, in many respects, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets are a model that others seek to emulate. Despite the pessimistic assumptions of the 1994 Strathclyde Report, which forecast terminal decline of markets, Birmingham has repeatedly demonstrated a capacity to innovate and respond to shifts in market and consumer demand. Although, there has been an erosion of occupancy rates, of the 100 plus units available, over three-quarters are in operational use, occupied by 73 companies, this is a much a reflection of site management, as it is of actual performance and economic demand. The protracted uncertainty over what option will be adopted for development of the Markets consideration has been under review since at least 2006 has deterred potential new entrants to Pershore Street, an inhibition that has been exacerbated by the fact that renewal leases have yet to be issued.

As a result, it is difficult to assess the potential performance of the Markets, given the constraints on the potential dynamism and vibrancy. It is important to recognise that with an average turnover of 3.6 million, the traders are substantive mediumsized companies. Structurally, the companies range from component parts of large national corporations to independent wholesalers. As a result, there is an inherent infrastructural sensitivity of the Markets, that needs to be managed appropriately to ensure the traders operate within a favourable and facilitative business environment. With aggregate turnover of close to 275 million, the Markets as a whole are a substantive economic entity in their own right. With 37 fruit and vegetable trading companies, the horticultural section is the predominant sector in terms of annual turnover with 53% of the total. The next largest contribution is from companies involved in the trading of fish, providing 22% of total turnover, comprising one eighth of all companies, The other sections of the market, Flowers, Poultry, Meat and

18 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Wholesale Markets Workforce Distribution

difficult given demand elasticises involved. Some of the distances to

Flowers 8% Dairy 1% Poultry 6%

Birmingham Markets are measured globally, or at least on a European level, and so shifts to alternate destinations could be comparatively easily accommodated. Nevertheless, with over 2,400 heavy and light deliveries per trading week, an employment multiplier in the logistics sector of 0.5 FTE seems reasonable, adding a further 1,200 FTE dependents. Given the number of companies operating on the site, ancillary jobs are probably a similar ratio to that in the retail markets

Fruit & Veg 58%

Fish 14%

Other 4%
Source: BWFPA

Meat 9%

Dairy comprise a smaller number of companies but perform strongly. The obvious advantage of having so many traders of such diverse fresh produce is that the arrangement allows purchasers access to almost the complete range of goods required for their operations. This is particularly the case for the Chinese, Asian and other ethnicallythemed restaurants and shops (including a number of the specialist wholesale suppliers and local supermarket chains) as well as for the diverse communities that make up the City. Employing 1,100 FTE directly on-site, the employment footprint in the City centre is significant and is probably one of the largest in the private sector. In addition to the off-site FTE (listed above) supported in the retail markets sector of an estimated 5,500, significant levels of other employment is supported. According to Birmingham City Council, close to 5,000 independent local businesses in the retail and catering outlets rely on the wholesale markets, assuming a FTE job dependency on the Markets of 1.5 (based on anecdotal conversations with leading

restaurateurs and convenience stores), this gives an employment multiplier of 7,500. Furthermore, given the price differential between wholesale and retail sourced goods, the small independent sector is particularly vulnerable to what would amount to a price shock of a magnitude of 30-40% (excluding transport costs), if access to the Wholesale Markets became constrained. Such a price shift would not only jeopardise employment opportunities but the actual commercial viability of many of these SMES. Many restaurateurs in the City, have said that to lose access to the markets, would put a minimum of 2 per dish they serve. Furthermore, a little quantified or comprehensively understood aspect of the Markets, is the capacity to act as a source of working capital, with a number of buyers requesting up to twelve weeks credit from traders against the norm for established small purchasers of four weeks in other sectors. Beyond the demand-side of the equation, quantifying the supply-side employment dependency is more

sector (0.25) then another 20-30 FTE jobs are dependent. While these data are provisional, and more detailed analysis of the multiplier impact in each of the different components of the business needs to be undertaken (given the use of anecdotal evidence), it can be conservatively estimated that at least 15,000 FTE jobs are dependent in some form on business conducted with the Birmingham Wholesale Markets. In recent years at a sub-national level, the number of secondary wholesale and retail markets has declined. This has paradoxically increased the importance of the Birmingham Markets, benefitting from its geographic location, favourable transport links, range of products, the competitiveness and knowledge base of the traders, effectively creating a wholesale economic cluster. As a result, the Markets have established itself as one of the pre-eminent markets nationally, with the Markets the largest integrated wholesale markets in the UK. This has been reflected in the progressive widening of the Markets opening

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 19

Turnover per Employee ()

600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 Fruit & Veg Flowers Dairy Poultry Fish Meat Other

Source: BWFPA

hours, which is now officially 4.00 am, but with activity brisk much earlier. According to the Council there are approximately 13,000 customers visiting each week, this probably masks a significant consumer tourist potential. Internally, the Markets provide a major source of competition which controls prices and allows retailers to choose their supplies by reference between one trader and another. Customers travel to the Birmingham Wholesale Markets from a considerable distance, but in the majority of cases from the West Midlands area and a travelling time of up to one hour.

The Markets provide a mode of access to the formal economy for many young people, whose qualifications attainment and residential location would normally deny them such access in other sectors. While the role of the Markets is not to compensate for the failings in other sectors of society, this beneficial consequence should not be underestimated or the implicit role in fostering social cohesion. Quite rapidly new entrants into the Markets labour force, become attuned to the arbitrage potential the Markets provide and many have ultimately progressed to become long-standing successful entrepreneurs. This is reflected in the turnover per employee, which compares favourably with other sectors of the economy.

20 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Horticultural Section
The fruit and vegetable traders form the largest component of the Markets, at 25,300 sq metres, occupying two legs of a basic Y shape. Internal roadways provide access for buyers while deliveries are made around the perimeter of the building. The internal roadways have a clear span of 15 metres and the depth of each stall is 28 metres including an unsecured night unloading area. There are two basic sizes of units with frontage of either 7.2 or 5.5 metres. In order to accommodate smaller companies, a number of basic units in the central area have been divided into small halls. Improvements in 1995 now mean the markets meet EU Hygiene of Foodstuffs Directive standards. The Horticultural Market is a large single-storey building, office facilities are provided along the perimeter at mezzanine level. At a national UK level, despite government efforts to promote greater health awareness and associated with that greater consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, consumption of fruit
Fruit & Vegetable Market (000 tonnes)
9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

Fruit Imports
Source: re:fresh 2011

UK Fruit Production

Vegetable Imports

UK Vegetable Production

and vegetables has remained relatively stable, at between 750,000 to 830,000 tonnes in recent years. While the EU forecasts a significant upward shift in consumption patterns, there is only a finite level of demand, related to population level. While there will be some growth as fruit consumption improves, potential for a shift in the demand structure is most likely to be as a result of price competiveness. As the table indicates, the Birmingham Wholesale Markets are always going to be competitive with the main retail
Tesco 28.3p 166p 64p 76p 56p Asda 27.0p 133p 108p 76p 56p Sainsbury 39.0p 166p 100p 80p 56p

multiples, given their much lower capital input requirements. Accordingly, given the shift in demand patterns, the Markets are in a positive position to take advantage of new trends. If this is supplemented by a more assertive strategy to source local produced equivalents as the Markets have been instrumental in sourcing Staffordshire-grown Pak Choi the increasing consumer preference for sustainability should provide a new stream of opportunities.

Produce Oranges Apples Avocados Onions Carrots

Type Price per loose Orange Golden Delicious per kg Price per Avocado Price per loose kg Price per loose kg

Waitrose 37.4p 177p 99p 39.7p 75p

WM Indicative Price 20.0p 66p 35p 16p 40p

Prices surveyed mid-November 2011, from national supermarket source websites. Nearest comparable product and quantity for price used, with basic range products surveyed. Prices are illustrative, subject to change, and should be used accordingly.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 21

Fish Market
The Fish Markets, with an available trading area of 1,500 sq metres, are in a two-storey building of 36 units and similar in design to the Meat Market with the same layout at first floor level. The Fish traders have responded dynamically to the major changes wrought on High Streets over the past few decades with the large scale disappearance of independent fishmongers by offering a range of bespoke services to catering companies and increasingly to independent restaurants and food outlets. The timeliness of delivery and quality of produce ensures that the Markets continue to enjoy their centuries old reputation of selling the freshest fish in England, despite being the furthest from the sea and major fishing ports. This capability to deliver quality, in contrast to other alternate outlets, has substantial benefits for the local restaurants as they attempt to increase GVA and in particular develop high-value quality cuisines as attested by the fact that Birmingham was acclaimed as Olives Food Capital of 2011. A key factor in maintaining this will be the markets ability to source sustainable fish produce, a feature that become of increasing importance to consumers. There has already been a major shift in terms of the landed fish catch. Nevertheless it remains the fact that it is on price competitiveness, that the Fish Markets will be able to achieve increased market penetration, as demand for fish has remained stable, despite the depth of the recession. With additional processing capacity, the Fish Market additionally offers a source of value added to the food chain.
Proportion of Landings of Sustainable Fish (UK Vessels)
800.0 700.0 600.0 500.0 400.0 300.0 200.0 100.0 0.0

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

Sustainable (000 tonnes) Sustainable ( mln)

Source: DEFRA

Total (000 tonnes) Total ( million)

Produce Cod Fillets Salmon Fillets Haddock Fillets

Type Price per kg Price per kg Price per kg

Tesco 9.00 16.00 9.00

Asda 11.11 12.50 11.11

Sainsbury 13.99 13.04 10.96

Waitrose 18.49 11.99 17.99

WM Indicative Price 8.45 4.50 7.45

Prices surveyed mid-November 2011, from national supermarket source websites. Nearest comparable product and quantity for price used, with basic range products surveyed. Prices are illustrative, subject to change, and should be used accordingly.

22 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Meat Market
The Meat Market comprises an area 3,500 sq metres, structured in a two storey building with 34 units and a central, chilled buyers walk at ground level. The Fish, Poultry and Meat Markets are the most capital intensive operations in the Markets, requiring considerable inputs, in terms of refrigeration, cold storage and handling infrastructure to ensure the quality of produce delivered. The Market meets the EU Red Meat Directive standards, requiring the installation of chilling and docking bays in 1996. Similar to the experience of the Fish suppliers, the Meat traders have had to offset the impact of a declining number of independent and small-chain butchers on the High Street, by providing meat to restaurants and caterers. In the meat sector there has been an aggregation of businesses so these are now often controlled by national companies. As is evident in other areas of fresh produce provision, the demand for meat nationally has remained relatively constant, although national production has yet to fully recover from the Foot & Mouth crisis. Along with other sections of the Markets, the meat market should be able to be sustain growth through quality and price.
Source: DEFRA

Meat Production England & Wales (000 head)

30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Sows & Boars Ewes & Rams Cows & Adults Bulls

Clean Pigs Sheep & Lambs Prime Cattle

Produce Beef Lamb Pork

Type Topside Joint, price per kg Leg Joint, price per kg Joint, price per kg

Tesco 8.99 9.99 4.00

Asda 8.97 7.50 5.00

Sainsbury 10.99 10.99 5.47

Waitrose 10.69 10.99 6.79

WM Indicative Price 5.95 6.25 2.50

Prices surveyed mid-November 2011, from national supermarket source websites. Nearest comparable product and quantity for price used, with basic range products surveyed. Prices are illustrative, subject to change, and should be used accordingly.

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 23

Poultry Market
The Poultry market occupies an area of 1,500 sq metres, sharing the same block as the Fish market. The Poultry and Egg traders have also restructured their operations to meet the shifts in demand and the demise of many retail outlets on the High street - providing restaurants and independents with poultry products. With demand for poultry products relatively stable it will be through price competiveness that the traders secure business growth. As is the case for the other sections of the Markets, origination and supply for many Local Authority and Institutional bodies, most especially schools, colleges and Universities, by the Poultry Markets has become an increasingly significant component. With continued fiscal retrenchment, and the increasingly acute requirements, on the part of purchasers, to source quality and value, the Markets role can only be expected to strengthen.
UK production and supply of poultry meat
700.0 600.0 500.0 400.0 300.0 200.0 100.0 2000 Q1 2001 Q1 2002 Q1 2003 Q1 2004 Q1 2005 Q1 2006 Q1 2007 Q1 2008 Q1 2009 Q1 2010 Q1 2011 Q1 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 Q3 0.0

Exported
Source: DEFRA

Imported

UK Production

Total New Supply

Produce Chicken Duck Eggs

Type Breast fillets, price per kg Whole, price per kg Large, price per egg

Tesco 9.71 4.69 19.8p

Asda 7.09 n/a 20p

Sainsbury 7.94 5.00 25p

Waitrose 8.00 3.74 27.4p

WM Indicative Price 3.00 3.00 7.5p

Prices surveyed mid-November 2011, from national supermarket source websites. Nearest comparable product and quantity for price used, with basic range products surveyed. Prices are illustrative, subject to change, and should be used accordingly.

24 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

Flowers
The Flower traders section occupies the third leg of the Y in the Horticultural Halls. While all sections of the Market operate sophisticated global sourcing arrangements, the Flower section is the only one that participates real time international auctions in both The Netherlands and North America, offering considerable potential price competition. According to analysis from the Flower and Plants Association, the flower traders are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of future shifts in consumer consumption patterns., The Association states that the UK fresh cut flower and indoor plant market is worth 2.2 billion at a retail level, somewhat greater than the British music industry (widely regarded as a leading industrial sector), which contributes less than 2 billon per annum. The average floral spend per person spend per person is 36. Although this represents significant growth over the past few decades (in 1984, per capita expenditure was calculated at 8), it does not match patterns of expenditure within the wider EU. European consumers are reckoned to regularly spend 60-100 per capita per year on cut flowers and indoor plants. There is thus considerable upside potential and again price competitiveness will be a key a factor.
Belgium pot plants Canary Islands chrysanthemums, roses Caribbean tropicals, foliage Chile carnations, roses Colombia standard & spray carnations, roses Denmark pot plants Ecuador carnations, roses Holland all flowers & pot plants India roses Israel roses, gypsophila, waxflower, anigozanthos. All summer flowers Italy carnations, chrysanthemums, foliage, foliage plants Kenya roses, carnations, spray carnations, statice Malta chrysanthemums, Paper White narcissi Morocco spray carnations, chrysanthemums Thailand orchids Turkey spray carnations Venezuela carnations, roses
Source: Flowers & Plant Association

List of product and origins

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 25

Future Prospects

The economic downturn has been a painful experience for many not just the Markets. However, the proposed rebalancing of the national economy offers significant opportunities for growth of the Birmingham Wholesale Markets and an expanded role as a vital part of the national food-supply chain. The Markets will continue to be a principal source of fresh produce for all the diverse communities of the City, and an essential component of our multicultural City.

Investment into the Markets is required to maintain our role and our capacity to support sustainable growth of the City. There is much latent demand for access to the Markets, and future investment would indicate a commitment to our longer term future and enable the Markets to tap into this unrealised demand. As a vital part of the ecology of the food supply chain, and the ecology of all the local markets, we provide a platform for new businesses to

The markets have been the beating heart of Birmingham for centuries. They remain vital for a city that should value all of its peoples and a sustainable future Professor Carl Chinn

establish themselves, both as our customers and potentially as traders on the market, without the barriers to entry common in other areas business. Working together with the City Council, we believe we can deliver a Wholesale Market designed to support the demands of Birminghams role as a leading international City and provide a stimulus to growth.

26 The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs The Essential Catalyst

The Market Traders

Fruit & Vegetables
A1 Veg A&S Fruit & Veg Alpha Produce Amin, Sons & Co Ltd R&RW Bartlett Bidwalla (Fruit & Veg) Ltd Birmingham Veg Caribbean Produce Chep UK Ltd Dixon Brothers Dunn Brothers Edward Allen Cook Ltd Four Seasons Fresh Farm Ltd Fresh Field Exotics GP Salads Ltd George Haines & son Hegashall Howes Export Ltd Kenton (Veg) Ltd M&I Fruit & Veg Mack - Birmingham mww markets New Fresh Veg Newnes Ltd PAM Exotics Pauls Produce Ltd George Perry Ltd Riaz Tropical Produce Joe Richards Ltd F Saxtons & Sons SDS Produce M.a Sharif D Spooner Total Produce

Fruit and Floristry

Vitacress Produce & Flowers

Floristry
Birmingham Flowers (J Large) Bloem-Flora CMT Flowers Midland Flower Co Ltd Newnes Ltd Whittingtons Silk Flower

Meat
Ted Collins Meats Ltd George Dobson & Co Fitzgeralds Meats Ltd Heart of England Catering Butchers 2000 Ltd KMC Food Group

Dairy
Manor Lodge Dairy Products

Poultry
Allens 03 (Poultry) Ltd H Bellingham Ltd Birmingham Egg Market Brymay Caterers Ltd Tom Carr Ltd PJ Poultry Ltd Super Egg Ltd

Catering
Arthur Brett Catering Georgios

Packaging
Nardean Ltd

Fish
Caterfish C & K Ebanks Ltd John Owen Salmon Inc WS Scott & Co Ltd SPI Tudor Seafoods Ltd J Vickerstaff & Co Ltd B A Westwood

Fish & Poultry

IM Leach Fish & Poultry Ltd

The Essential Catalyst The Birmingham Wholesale fresh produce markeTs 27

Dont forget to collect your window sticker next time you visit us and join our supporter list online at www.birminghammarkets.co.uk You can also get in touch at: Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association Unit 76-77 Wholesale Market Pershore Street Birmingham B5 6UN United Kingdom

Disclaimer: This report was written and compiled by Paul Forrest, Forrest Research Limited, as part of the technical assistance programme provided by Technolink UK Limited to the Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association. The analysis presented in this report accurately represents the personal assessment of the analyst(s) and no part of the compensation of the analyst(s) was, or will be directly or indirectly related to the inclusion of specific views in this report. The information contained, and any views expressed, herein are based upon data currently available within the public domain. The contents of this Report are not a substitute for specific advice and should not be relied upon as such. Accordingly, whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, no representation or warranty is made or given in respect of its contents and no responsibility is accepted for the consequences of any reliance placed on it by any person. Further information is available on request. Written by Forrest Research, www.forrestreearch.co.uk Commissioned by Technolink (UK) Ltd, www.technolink.uk.com Designed by Rye Design, www.ryedesign.co.uk Printed by Express Printing, www.xpressdesignandprint.co.uk Photography by Jermane Clarke, www.ionephotography.co.uk 2011 Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association.